Topeka First United Methodist Church: Recent Episodes
Topeka First United Methodist Church
Pastor Jeff explores the way in which Jesus Christ as a good shepherd shapes our lives and the stories we tell.
Join pastor Stephanie in exploring the comforting and familiar story of Thomas, a Disciple of Jesus who came to know Jese through his doubts.
This year, as we celebrate Maundy Thursday from our homes, join us in using this guided reflection to focus our minds, bodies, and spirits on the redeeming work of Christ. As part of the celebration, join Topeka First UMC at www.forthegoodofthecity.org/livestream for a celebration of Holy Communion at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 9. Have juice and bread ready as we gather digitally to remember the gift of eternal life given to us through Christ.
Pastor Jeff Clinger explores the reality that even in the midst of doubt, uncertainty, and fear, we are invited to rejoice.
Join Pastor Jeff as he explores the ways in which we can get our spiritual fitness back on track, even if it's time to do a little "recalculating"
Find more great digital content at www.forthegoodofthecity.org/digitalcontent
Pastor Jeff explores the ways in which, as Christians, can redefine who we are and who we want to be in the pursuit of increased spiritual fitness. Join us in worship every Sunday at www.forthegoodofthecity.org/livestream
In the premiere episode of Methodists Behind the Madness, host Austin Harris sits with Topeka First UMC's Senior Pastor Jeff Clinger. The two discuss the ongoing Corona Virus crisis, his church's response to it, and his hope for how people of faith might respond and act in the midst of the pandemic.
Visit www.forthegoodofthecity.org to access more digital content or to donate.
The film “March of the Penguins” tells the story of the annual journey undertaken by Emperor Penguins as they go to mate. It is a story of commitment, of perseverance, of grit. Through this message we’ll explore these themes as they relate to our lives as followers of Jesus. Additionally, on this Father’s Day, we’ll name the ways in which Fathers can provide powerful examples of these traits in their families and communities.
In the movie Toy Story, Woody struggles with his self-esteem after being dethroned as the favorite toy. Buzz struggles with an out of control ego. Both end up wrapping their identity up in their abilities and lose sight of who they are as Andy’s beloved toys. On this Pentecost Sunday we will use the stories of Woody and Buzz and their search for identity as an invitation to remember our identity that comes in Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
A key part of our faith is inviting others to come and experience the difference that Jesus can make in their lives as well. As we think about what it means for a dog to fetch we will explore Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28 and Acts 1 as a model for how we might live as followers today. On this Memorial Day, we will also acknowledge those who have come before us and invited us to live differently as a result of their sacrificial invitations.
On this Mother’s Day Sunday we will explore what it means to live as generous givers in the context of the command to “leave it.” Dogs are told to “leave it” when attempting to take more than their fair share and when they have something they want to share but don’t know how to. We will talk about leaving gifts in the day to day reality of living as well as ways to share generously from generation to generation.
It is important for a dog to sit when commanded to do so by their master. Likewise, as we seek to grow in relationship with Jesus, it is important that we take time to sit as well. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 provides an illustration of what it means to sit, to rest, to let Jesus work, and then to play our role. As we look at this story we will also explore the important role of group life in being able to sit and to connect with God and with others.
A foundational part of our life of faith is Jesus’ call to come, to follow, to trust. Just as it is imperative for a dog to respond to the voice of its master and to come when called, as followers of Jesus it is imperative that we hear and respond to the voice of Jesus when we are called. As we begin this series we’ll explore the call of Jesus and the invitation to respond specifically through the story of Jesus walking on water and inviting Peter to do the same. We will also be reminded that a key part of our life as a follower of Jesus is to worship in response to what God has done and is doing.
On the Friday we now call “Good” Jesus’ followers watched as he was crucified, died, and was buried. Early on Sunday morning, after their celebration of the Passover, some of the women who had witnessed this death went to the tomb to formally prepare his body. When they arrived they found Jesus’ body gone and began to wrestle with what it meant, had the reports of his death been exaggerated? On this Easter morning we will reflect upon what Christ’s triumph over death means for us nearly 2,000 years later and what it means for us to live as people who don’t exaggerate reports of death and despair, but rather look for signs of life and hope.
We celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a Sunday, the day of the week when we regularly gather for worship. However, there is no real way to know 2,000 years later what day of the week it was when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Some scholars have offered the suggestion that Jesus actually rode into the city on Monday. And even if he did ride in on a Sunday, it was the first day of the week after the sabbath, a day when things were beginning again and people were returning to routines. On this Palm Sunday we’ll spend our time reflecting on what it means that Jesus interrupts the routines of our lives and confronts us with an invitation to live differently.
As the series comes to a close we’ll reflect briefly on all that we have covered so far and the invitations to be intentional about cultivating an emotionally healthy spirituality. Specifically, we’ll talk about a rule of life as a tool and a guide for intentionally living our relationship with God and others and be invited to draft a rule of life for the remainder of the year.
Jesus regularly stepped away to pray and rest and intentionally connect with God. In this message, we’ll talk about a daily rhythm for doing this, the daily office, as well as a weekly rhythm for doing this, Sabbath. We’ll explore these ideas theologically and biblically and be invited to consider practicing them with intentionality as a part developing a contemplative spirit.
Significant barriers to emotional health exist in the false narratives we believe about ourselves and our worth. Our family histories and stories also contain barriers that, when not explored or understood, make it difficult to live in the most healthy ways. In this message, we’ll talk about what it means to live a new and different life in Christ and how we must go back into our stories and know ourselves to most fully grow in Christ-likeness.
In our busy world, so often defined by achieving and accumulating, the intersection of emotional health and contemplative spirituality provide a powerful framework for living differently. In this second message of the series, we’ll define and explore both of the terms in some depth and use some of the imagery from Revelation as well as the story of Mary and Martha as an invitation to reflect on our lives today.
Jesus offers followers rest and abundant life. Paul said that life in the Spirit would be characterized by certain fruit. However, followers of Jesus often seem just as stressed and rushed and busy (if not more so) as the rest of the world. In this first message of the series, we’ll explore our invitation to live differently and some of the key symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality that often keep people from experiencing the fullness of Jesus’ promises. In this message, people will be invited to practice a simple centering/breath prayer through the week ahead.
Regardless of whether or not there is clarity about what is next for the global United Methodist Church following General Conference, we will gather on this Sunday for a time of reflection and prayer. Any updates regarding the action of General Conference will be shared and processed in light of our call as a congregation in this community at this time.
On this Sunday morning, the second day of General Conference, we will gather for a message that may feel as much like a family meeting as it does a traditional sermon. We will explore the history of how we got here as a denomination, the potential outcomes from this General Conference, and how we as a church will be invited to live in relationship with and treat one another as we walk this journey together.
Join our youth for a special message on what it means to live courageously with the knowledge that God is with always.
Jesus was a masterful storyteller. Through the telling of stories, he helped people understand what God was doing in the world and challenged people to live differently in response to God’s work. As followers of Jesus today we are invited to share our stories as a means of witnessing to our faith and inviting others into a relationship with God in Christ. Through this message we’ll explore our invitation to live as storytellers.
As followers of Jesus we understand that true greatness comes in serving, serving God and serving others. Through this message we’ll explore our call as followers of Jesus to serve, not simply to be served.
Everything we are and everything we have comes as a gift from God. In light of this reality, followers of Jesus are invited to be generous givers, responding to the generosity of God. In this message we’ll look at the Biblical images of giving and sharing resources as we explore our call to be generous givers.
As we continue our exploration of Topeka First’s Discipleship Pathway, we turn to look at the important rhythm of group life. We’ll talk about the biblical call to community and the benefits that come when we make a commitment to group life. We’ll use the story from Mark’s Gospel of four friends bringing a person before Jesus for healing and the life rhythm of the very earliest Christians as models for how we engage in and live group life today.
We kick off our exploration of our Discipleship Pathway by looking at the rhythm of worship in the life of a Christian. We will talk about the biblical invitation to communal worship and examine the benefits, both for us individually and for those around us, of gathering regularly to celebrate God as a community of faith.
As we prepare to close out 2018 and transition into 2019 we will reflect on baptism, the historical roots, what it means for us today, and what it means for us to make disciples “baptizing them….” We will also offer people a chance to remember or reaffirm their baptism or to think about what it might mean to be baptized with a special element in the service.