Steve Woody: Recent Episodes
Livingston FUMC
On A Mission: "Validation of our Job" 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13 What is it that God asks us to do? What are we as a church doing to build his kingdom and not our own sanctuaries to please ourselves? When was the last time you thought about what God has called you to do?
On A Mission: "Inside These Walls" Ephesians 4: 1-16 Walls Separate us all the places we go. Sometimes these walls are good for our protection, privacy, allow us to have those pictures that remind us of great memories. Other times those walls are not so good as they limit us from doing things we know we need to be doing. We use walls to hide behind and these walls can be physical, emotional, and psychological. No matter what, God wants us to recognize these walls and see if they truly serve a purpose or are they hindering what He has asked us to do.
Love Reigns! "Love Reigns Over Our Present" Acts 7: 55-60 the stoning of Stephen is one of the most tragic stories in the bible. Tragic because an innocent man is stoned for telling the truth. But as tragic as Stephen's story is, it also teaches us something about life. Because we are often hit with some of those same stones, and if we allow God's love to reign in our life God will show us how to face those stones.
On A Mission: "Go Outside Your Comfort Zone" Matthew 15: 11-28 We all have comfort zones that limit us in what we need to accomplish. I want to encourage you to take that first step outside that zone with us this Sunday morning and see what God has planned for you and for us as the church body.
Love Reigns! "Love Reigns Over Our Past" 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21 It can be very hard to get away from your past. Not only will other people not let us forget our past mistakes, but oftentimes, we don't forget them either. We allow our past to affect both our present and our future. But this is not what God wants for us, and it's not the reason that Jesus died and rose again. Just as Jesus died for our sins, he also died to put to death the demons of our past.
Rise Up: "Feed the Sheep" John 21: 1-19 This text is often referred to as the "reinstatement of Peter". Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, so Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" And though Peter says "yes" three times, Jesus still asks for proof of his love. He says, "feed my sheep". How we love Jesus can often be measured by how willing we are to feed his sheep.
Change Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 There are two "C" words most people do not like, Change and Challenge. A matter of fact if you were smiling before you read this you more than likely stopped. We like the way things are or have been. The familiar is good and the unknown is bad. This Sunday, we will look at some different ways that we can change our perspective and challenge our outlook to see that it can be a time of excitement to question and react to what is going on around us each day.
April 24 (Second Sunday of Easter) Text: John 20:19-22 Title: “Pursue Forgiveness” Theme: Jesus had every reason to be angry with the disciples after his crucifixion. They were his most trusted friends, his disciples, and yet they abandoned him. But his first word to them was not an accusatory word, but a word of forgiveness, “peace”.
Rise Up: "While It's Still Dark" John 20: 1-18 There is something about this version of the resurrection that is not found in any of the other accounts. John has Mary arriving at the tomb, "while it was still dark". This means that God did his best work in raising Jesus, not by the light of Easter morning, but while it was dark. We don't wait for some glorious moment in the future to rise up and be the church, but we rise up while it's still dark, so we can bring the light.
Leaving Our Comfort Zones: "Things Are As They Appear Part 1" John 20: 1-18 Then Jesus appeared to Mary she was not prepared to see Jesus. She did not recognize him when she turned around. It was not until she heard her name spoken by him did she know it was him. Have we heard Jesus call to us? If we have then why are we not answering him? Are we giving into fear of rejection? Join us this Sunday as we see Mary step outside her comfort zone for Christ.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "He Gives Us a New Family" John 19: 17-18, 25-27 Jesus said many controversial things about family in the gospels. Things that were hard for the people back then, and even Christians today to understand. But then family must have been important for Jesus because even as he was dying on a cross, he was creating a new family. And he still is.
Leaving Our Comfort Zones: The Anointing" John 12: 1-8 Why does some of the best things that are done met with such opposition? When we do things as Christians we are to do them for the glory of the Lord. But some see what we do and diminish it because of their own held beliefs on how things should be done. This Sunday, we look at how something as simple as a pint of nard causes such an uproar and a lesson to be learned.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "He Doesn't Always Make Sense" John 3: 1-17 There are many things that Jesus taught that didn't seem to make a lot of sense. Not because Jesus was irrational, but because Jesus was teaching about heavenly things. If we spend our life always trying to make sense of things, it can sometimes keep us from discovering spiritual truths.
Leaving Our Comfort Zones: "Communion" Luke 22: 14-23 What better place to start a series about comfort zones than one that looks at the scripture on communion. In the life of the church I have noticed that communion Sunday is one that is not as attended as others. This I think Has something to do with the power of the service of communion and the meaning behind it. I encourage you though to look at the rest of this passage with me as there is not just the sharing of the bread and wine but also another part we tend to look over as the comfort zone of the disciples was tested.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "His Arms Are Open" Luke 15: 11-32 The parable of the Prodigal son is very familiar to many. In fact, some of us will see ourselves in the Prodigal. And though that was part of Jesus' intention, he also intended that we see the Father as God, and that we recognize that his arms were always open to his son's return.
The Church Has Left The Building: "Never Mess With God" 1 Samuel 5: 1-12 It can be hard to know if we are truly answering God's call, but the people around us can affirm us and keep us on the right path. Sometimes, we have to trust that God is speaking to us through others, even when we have self-doubts.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "Sometimes We Hurt Him" Luke 13: 31-35 In this text Jesus laments over the sins of Jerusalem. Any parent knows the pain of watching a wayward child do things that are destructive to their life. The older the children get, the less we can protect them from themselves. The same is true with Jesus and with us.
The Church Has Left The Building: "Be Supporting" 1 Samuel 20: 1-17 Answering a call is rarely easy. But with the support of good friends and a community, we don't have to face the hardships alone.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "He Wants to Change You" Luke 13: 1-9 Oftentimes Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God and part of Jesus mission on this earth was to prepare us for that coming Kingdom. But for us to be ready, means that we must change, and true change must include true repentance.
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "It Was Never About Him" John 16: 12-15 The entire life of Jesus was about redeeming a lost and broken world. It was about doing and being what God wanted Jesus to do and to be. So often we look at our church, and even our faith from the perspective of what we want. But then, the work of God in this world is not to help us get what we want, but what God wants for us.
The Church Has Left The Building: "God's Purpose" 1 Samuel 16: 1-13 God has a (different) purpose for everyone, even if it seems unlikely or calls you away from the "norm".
Things You Should Know About Jesus: "There's a Cost" Luke 14: 25-33 Jesus was very clear in telling potential disciples to "count the cost" before they decided to follow him. The truth about following Jesus is that it comes with the expectation of growth. But then Spiritual growth is a commitment.
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Adjusting My Life to God's Will" Romans 12: 1-2 A good relationship often takes compromise. One or both sides have to make adjustments. To truly experience God means compromise as well, but not on God's side, but from us and how we live our lives. Big Point: "We have to make major adjustments in our life to join God in his work."
Being the Church: "Be Transformational: Romans 12: 1-2 Being transformed allows us to be transformational in the world.
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Navigating Your Crisis of Belief" Hebrews 10: 19-25 At one point all of us will experience at least one crisis of belief. This can manifest itself with doubts about the existence of God to doubts about what God really wants from us. If we navigate this crisis correctly, we generally get closer to God once we go through it. Big point: "God's invitation to work with him often leads to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action."
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Listening When God Speaks" John 16: 12-15 For many of us we wish that God would just whisper in our ear and tell us what to do. As far-fetched as that sounds, the truth is God is always speaking to us, we just need the tools to learn how to listen. Big point: "God uses the Holy Spirit, which in turn uses many means to speak to us, the most common being the scriptures and fellow Christians."
Being the Church: "Be A Witness Wherever You Go" Matthew 28: 16-20 The gospel is a message to be shared. We are called (given authority) to be witnesses beyond the walls of the Church.
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Accepting God's Invitation" John 5: 16-19 To experience God is to join Jesus in his work. This means that we don't say, "God what is you will for my life?" No, the question is simply, "God what is your will?" big Point: "God invites you to join him in his work."
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Going Deeper In My Relationship With God" John 15: 1-5 You cannot experience God if you're not connected to God. God is with us all the time, seeking a deeper connection, but we have to put ourselves in the position to stay connected and grow in our faith. Big Point: "God pursues a relationship with us that is real and personal".
Experiencing God (a guide to knowing and doing God's will): "Discovering Where God is at Work" Exodus 3: 1-7, 10-14 When we think of experiencing God we generally think of special places and times. One of the most powerful God experiences in the Bible is when Moses experienced God in the burning bush. But then he didn't see that Bush while he was worshiping or in a temple, but as he was working, and on a mountain. Big Point: "God is always at work around us".
Stories of the Boy Jesus: "The Right Resolution" Luke 2: 41-52 On New Year's Day we sometimes make a new year's resolution. Usually it consists of exercising more or losing weight. In other words, we seek to make our self feel better physically. But notice that even as a young boy Jesus was not concerned about his physical well-being but his spiritual self, and doing what his Father had called him to do.
Stories of the Boy Jesus: "The Wonder and the Joy" Luke 2: 22-40 When we were children, we could not wait for Christmas and the joy of that day was intoxicating. But many of us get older and Christmas does not carry the glitter and shine it used too. In this text we see an old man look into the eyes of an infant and for a moment, he is a child again. Perhaps we too need to look into the eyes of that child so that we can remember we are still children, God's children.
"The Name is Important" Isaiah 7: 10-16 There is a psychology to names. It has been suggested that our name can do much to shape our character. God was very specific when he first gave Jesus a name. He called him Emmanuel, God with us.
The Glory of Christmas: "The Wise Man" Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11 We often call the Magi in the Christmas story the Wise Men. Though the scriptures never really refer to them as "wise", we can see the wisdom in their actions. They went to great lengths to follow a star in hopes they would also find a Messiah. Wisdom is knowing our place in the Christmas story, that ultimately is a story about us.
The Glory of Christmas: "The Shepherd" Luke 2: 8-20 It is important that the angels appeared to the shepherds, and not to a king or some other person of importance. Shepherds were among the least in the culture of ancient Israel. But the fact that God chose a shepherd to witness the birth is truth to what the angel said, "I bring you good news of great joy for ALL the people".
The Glory of Christmas: "The Shepherd" Luke 2: 8-20 It is important that the angels appeared to the Shepherds, and not to a King or some other person of importance. Shepherds were among the least in the culture of ancient Israel. But the fact that God choose a shepherd to witness the birth is truth to what the angel said, "I bring you good news of great joy for ALL the people".
The Glory of Christmas: "Joseph" Matthew 1: 18-25 God was always choosing the most insignificant or flawed people to do the most amazing things. The bible describes Joseph as a "just man" who was also "just" a man. It seems that God will always choose us, no matter our flaws, because our God is the kind of God who never gives up on us.
"Jesus Took Naps"
Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56 There is power in a time of rest. I have always wanted a reason to use this saying and now I can. After a long day with the disciples and not having the time to even eat, he said to them "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest". This is something Jesus did often. As the saying goes "You can not take care of others, if you do not first take care of yourself". Join us this Sunday as we look at how the best laid plans at times backfire but the need to follow all of Jesus' teachings is so important.
The "F" Word "We All Fall Down" Ephesians 2: 1-10 We are all destined to fall at some point in our lives, and in fact we have all fallen a lot more than we wish to acknowledge. Yet, as the saying goes it is not about us falling but how we pick ourselves up after the fall. Join us this Sunday as we look at how sin brought the fall of man but how Jesus is the way we pick ourselves up every time.
The "F" Word "Why We Fail" Micah 7: 8 News Flash: We are not perfect. We are all good at certain things, but there was only one perfect person that walked and talked and that was God in human form, or even more clearly Jesus Christ. Why is the need to be perfect so important? Why do we try so hard to be the best? When it comes to the end of our lives the only thing we can do is to point toward Christ and say He is the reason I am here, not by my works.
The "F" Word "Whom Shall I Fear" Psalm 27 Fear is the number one reason we do not do things in our lives. There are so many fears in the world it is amazing that anything happens. But there are a few ways we can overcome those fears and this Sunday, we will look at some of those ways and how God is always at the center of each one.
Chasing Joy! The Pursuit of Holiness "Hobbling Toward the Promised Land" Matthew 5: 1-2
The "F" Word "Having Faith in Hard Times" James 1: 16-18 Life is hard. this is not a well-kept secret. Through life we will come upon problems and then they pass only for new ones to appear. How we get through these hard times points to where our strength is found. Are we trusting in God or in our own abilities?
Youth Sunday
Luke 10: 1-4 Youth in Missions is a brand new initiative focused on sending out the teenagers of our youth ministry into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
I Love My Church! "The Divine Purpose" Matthew 28: 16-20 Oftentimes we can forget what we're about as the church. We get so caught up doing our own thing with each other that we forget our main thing is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
I Love My Church! "A Spiritual Family" Ephesians 2: 19-22 Over and over again the Bible refers to Christian believers as "the family of God". Jesus has created the church and made us into a spiritual family. Being an active part of a church family is necessary for our spiritual growth.
Reset "We Belong to God" Psalm 100 The need to belong is engrained into the very fabric of our being. We go through life trying to find our place in the world. There are many books that are written to guide us along this process but none better than the bible itself.
I Love My Church! "A Place to Make a Difference" Ephesians 4: 11-16 Whether we realize it or not we all have a deep-rooted desire to make a positive difference in the world. We want to matter, and we want to know that our lives matter. The church was created by Jesus to make a difference in people's lives. It's what we do, it's who we are, and more importantly, it's why Jesus called you to be a part of the church.
Reset "Believing in God" Genesis 1: 1 Why do we believe in things? We believe that there is going to be a tomorrow when we lay our heads down at night. We believe that the love we have for one another will never fade. We even believe that as kids the blanket had magical powers to protect us from the things that went bump in the night. We are here today though not just believing but some are even hoping that if there is a God that he is a merciful God. This Sunday we will open the bible to the very beginning of scripture and see that the bible never argues for the existence of God, in fact it all started with him.
I Love My Church! "Hope for the World" Matthew 16: 13-18 Our world is in desperate need of hope. We know that Jesus IS the hope for the world, and yet even as we know that, the world often rejects our message as the church because we ARE the church. But no matter how many attacks are made upon the modern church, it will always stand firm.
Puzzling Messages "An Invitation to a Swim Party" Mark 5: 1-20 As Jesus comes to the edge of a lake, he is met by a man who lived in a cave and was possessed by multiple demons. When Jesus ordered the demons out of the man, the demons begged Jesus not to turn them out but instead send them into the herd of pigs who were grazing close by. In this scripture we see Jesus do what he does best, and that is a game of word play. The demons said they do not want to be sent to hell, and Jesus said he will not send them there. He instead sends them into the pigs and the pigs are the one that sent them there as they jumped into the lake. So, they were the ones that sent them back to hell. Interesting story, even more so, when we break it down this week and see what else this means.
Ancient Faith For The Modern World "JOB" Job 1: 1, 2: 2-10 This sermon will tell the story of Job and wrestle with the question of "Why bad things happen to good people."
Puzzling Messages "Jesus Gets Mad at a Tree" Matthew 21: 18-19 One day Jesus was on his way to Bethany, in a state of hunger. He saw a fig tree that was in leaf but had no fruit and said to the tree "May you never bear fruit again!" then the tree immediately withered. This is the reading we will share Sunday morning but in the book of Mark it talks about Jesus and his disciples when Jesus was i a a state of hunger, he saw a fig tree far off in a distance that was in leaf and when he got to it, he saw it had no fruit because it was not in season. In this reading Jesus says, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again". This looks like Jesus, the son of God, was having a tantrum and cursed a tree because it id not have out-of-season fruit for him. That a confusing and yet interesting story.
Ancient Faith For The Modern World "SOLOMON" 1 Kings 2: 10-12, 3: 3-14 This sermon will focus on Solomon and how God granted him a "wish". It will attempt to counter and compare "wishing" to "praying".
Ancient Faith For The Modern World "ESTHER" Esther 7: 1-10 This sermon will focus on Esther, telling Esther's story and emphasizing an important truth about the story of Esther, "No matter what happens, God is still in control."
Just Be... "Being Faithful" 1 Corinthians 4: 14-21 The word faithful is well understood as being loyal and steadfast. Yet this week I want us to focus on the part of it meaning devoted. In our scripture reading for this Sunday Paul is writing a warning but encourages the apostles to imitate him and to help he sends Timothy whom he loves and knows is faithful. He is sent to remind them of the way of his life in Christ Jesus. What I want us all to see is that Paul made the point that is what he taught everywhere and in every church. How are we faithful to Christ? Do we live it out or is it just words? Are we devoted to building the kingdom or are we in our arrogance coming to see what we can get out of God.
Just Be... "Being Courageous" Joshua 1: 6-7 When I think of the word courage my mind goes in many directions: 1. To the Wizard of Oz movie and the Lion. I love the older movies with such great plots. 2. Childhood and riding my bike with no training wheels for the first time. 3.The moment I realized that I needed God more than he did me.
This week we will look at a reading of only 2 verses from Joshua. These are verses 6-7 which tell us “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” This is important as We have already looked at how we are to be obedient to God and how we need to be available to God. We will also come upon times when we will need courage for the road ahead.
We all know though that true courage was found in the act of Jesus, fully God, but also fully man, taking our sins upon himself as he took our place on the cross.
Just Be... "Available" Isaiah 6: 1-8 How many times have we heard the question: do I have a volunteer? From grade school to adult life, we seem to not be able to escape this question. Did you know that this is an age-old question ask by God also? In our scripture this week we find Isaiah speaking about a vision he had of God where he was asked a similar question, "Whom Shall I Send? And who will go for us?" As we come together this Sunday I want us all to look at this vision and see where we are in our life and what we would do if that very question is asked of us today. For each day this should ring true in our lives.