Grace Talks: Recent Episodes
Corey Simon
In this sermon on Mark 1, Pastor Corey dives into the topic of peace and how it is that we pray for it even as the world feels more divided than ever.
In this sermon on hope, Pastor Corey dives into what it means to hope in the face of the world's problems. How do we endure when everything around us seems to be falling apart?
It's the most wonderful time of the year, the time of year when we're told our worth is based on material goods and the consumerism we're able to engage in. In contrast to Christ the King Sunday is Black Friday, the holiday declaring you are enough vs the holiday which says you will never be enough.
In this sermon on the parable of the talents, Pastor Corey dives into what it means to fail and how, as long as we don't give up, failure is actually success because it means we're getting better.
"The world is ending!" seems to be the cry from so many corners of the Christian world right now, in this sermon on Matthew 25:1-13, Pastor Corey digs into the parable of the lamps and suggests that we need to relax and understand that the message of Christ seems to be one that is different than the popular version we hear from those waiting for the end.
In this All Saints Day sermon, Pastor Corey digs into the intersection between hope and grief in the face of death.
The question of evil is as old as human thought and today Pastor Corey attempts to answer the question according to the Classical Christian tradition in the final sermon in the Q&A series.
This week's question, “With all the political differences in churches and our world, how can we work together with these differences to carry out the mission of the church?” seems like a truly difficult thing to discuss in this era of our history. Hear Pastor Corey's response to this question in this week's sermon.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey attempts to answer two questions, “Did the Holy Family have documentation to travel to Egypt?” and “What is the Christian response to the refugee crisis?”
In light of the many problems facing the world right now and especially in the wake of the attacks on Gaza, what is the Christian response to those suffering the greatest need?
What does it mean to see Christ in the face of the stranger?
Over the next four weeks, we're delving into a congregation-directed sermon series where congregants were asked to submit questions for Pastor Corey to answer.
In this week's sermon, the question is: How do we approach divorce and remarriage within the Church?
Whenever we come to scripture we often notice certain cracks in the words written. While some attempt to handwave these away, using creating methods of interpretation to ignore them; it is perhaps the more faithful and honest option to grapple with them and consider their implications.
What do we do when Scripture tells us that Moses both did and did not see the face of God... in the same chapter? Find out in this sermon.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey compares the story of the golden calf with the real-life story of the town of Covert. This community set out to defy the powers of racism and white supremacy decades before such things were even commonly expected. What can we learn from such examples today?
Undeniably there are parts of Scripture that are ugly. That appears to our modern sensibilities as problematic and even outright hateful. But when we consider how many of these books and documents were written by people in the midst of oppression they suddenly make more sense. How do we read the story of the Red Sea and be reminded that more often then not, we are the Egyptians, not the Israelites?
Oppression harms everyone, oppressed and oppressor alike. In this sermon, Pastor Corey delves into the damage Egypt was doing not only to the people of Israel but themselves. What does it mean to be called from a place? What does it mean to return to certain danger? What does it mean to proclaim, "let my people go"?
Joseph was the worst sort of brother, snobby, self-centered, and certain of his own superiority. Is it any wonder his brothers hated him? All throughout Genesis we see this pattern of brother hating brother and the problems that emerge. Jealousy is a cancer that destroys everyone it touches and when favoritism is shown it breeds resentment. It is only when we put aside favoritism and work to ensure the well-being of all that we can truly work toward the Beloved Community of God.
In this sermon, we begin with the American Dream Dusty Rhodes and the World Heavyweight Championship match of 1986. From here we tie in the story of Jacob wrestling with God and wonder what it means for us. What does it mean to doubt or wrestle with God in our own lives?
In this sermon on the parable of the shrewd manager from Luke 16, Pastor Corey looks at what forgiveness and grace means and how it is that we should seek to be forgiving and grace-filled in all that we do.
In this sermon on the parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15, Pastor Corey examines what it means to be the seeker of the lost and what it means to be sought after.
In this sermon on Luke 14:25-33, Pastor Corey looks at Jesus' teaching on the cost of being a disciple, looking at what it means to hate as it relates to other Scriptures telling us to love.
In this sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Pastor Corey delves into the nature of what it means to live in community and to share one another's burdens. Drawing from the wisdom of mutual aid, he looks into how it is that we can support one another in ways that are both ancient and modern.
In this sermon on Luke 12:49-56, Pastor Corey looks at Jesus' claim that he comes not to bring peace but rather division. Sometimes transforming the world for the well-being of all requires disturbing the peace. Or at least that's what Jesus seemed to think.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey digs into the Golden Rule and the repeated call of the prophets to be there for the least of these and the oppressed. Beginning with Isaiah, he moves through the other prophets' similar cries and ties it all together with Jesus' desire for mercy not sacrifice.
In this sermon on the parable of the foolish builder (Luke 12:13-21), Pastor Corey dives into what our role is in sharing our excess. Rather than building up walls or defenses to better hold onto what we have, it would seem the Christian role is to build tables so as to provide for others.
Following his sermon last week, Pastor Corey dives into his guns into garden tools ministry. Using the direction of Isaiah 2, he speaks on his passion for transforming tools of death into tools of life, dreaming of the day when we shall beat swords to plowshares and learn war no more.
A sermon Micah 4:1-5 and introducing the theme of the Mountain of the Lord and Christian peacemaking through the witness of beating swords into plowshares, Pastor Corey talks about his experience blacksmithing and the Christian hope for a more peace-filled world.
In this week's sermon, Pastor Corey dives into the parable of the good Samaritan and relates it to Mr Fred Rogers' work on his show Mr Rogers' Neighborhood. Asking the question of "who is my neighbor?" he dives into what it means to be a neighbor both individually and socially in our world today.
In this sermon on Luke 8:26-39, Pastor Corey talks about his experience at camp as it relates to the story of Jesus' encounter and exorcism of the Gerasene Demoniac. Bringing up rejection and the robbing of bodily autonomy, he dives into some of the biblical basis for understanding the demonic.
In this sermon on 1 Kings 10:1-15a, Pastor Corey dives into the need for rest. In a culture that is go go go, sometimes we need to take some time for ourselves.
19 years. That is the deadline some analysts give the UMC before we reach a point of unsustainability. And yet in the face of a number like this perhaps the need is not to become hopeless but rather to become hopeful. To see this deadline as something to be galvanized by. Something built up by. In this sermon on Pentecost, Pastor Corey dives into our hope for the Church and the presence of God in our midst.
In this sermon on Acts 11:1-8, Pastor Corey dives into Peter's vision and the words of God coming to him saying, "do not call impure what God has made pure," and asks the question, "who are we calling impure?" Reflecting upon the people of God and the serious questions of LGBTQ inclusion we are invited to think about who we are welcoming into our doors.
In this sermon on Leviticus 25:1-7, Pastor Corey dives into the ancient practice of the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee and calls us to imagine what it might be like to see that in our world today and how it is that we might best practice that in our own lives.
In this sermon Pastor Corey has a bad case of allergies so you may notice he sounds a bit congested. Despite that, he delivers a sermon on the importance of caring for the oppressed and the least of these. Through examining the business practices involved in global farming practices he invites the hearer to imagine a better world and how it is that we can start on that path towards that world.
In this sermon Pastor Corey goes back to the beginning as he looks at God breathing life into humankind and giving us a place to call home. He talks about our interrelatedness to the land and our inability to be truly separated from it.
In this sermon on Thomas, Pastor Corey looks at the character of Thomas, the disciple who is remembered most for his doubt, and examines what it means to have faith versus belief and how doubt is actually needed in order for faith to truly flourish.
In this sermon on the Resurrection as presented in the Gospel of John, Pastor Corey examines the view of Jesus as Gardener and what that means both for us as a community and as individuals.
In this audio version of this year's Good Friday service, we follow Christ to the Cross and reflect on how it still relates to us today.
In this sermon on Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Christ, Pastor Corey discusses the fickle nature of our hearts and how we are so often both the ones crying out for our Savior and for his blood.
In this sermon Pastor Corey reflects on the things of the earth we work to accumulate and build up for ourselves only to find them worthless in the end. Which is more important? A life lived for others or a life lived for riches?
In this sermon on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Pastor Corey dives into the feeling of resentment we all feel when we perceive something as unfair and asks the question of how it is we get past that. How it is that we begin to see others not as someone to be competed with but as someone to share with in love.
When it comes to suffering and evil one of the most common questions we will ever hear or ask is: why? In this sermon Pastor Corey looks at Jesus' parable of the fig tree and the gardener and breaks down the question and how it relates to us.
In this sermon Pastor Corey looks at the role of the prophet in ancient Israel and the role of the prophet today, noting that to speak truth to power is always dangerous.
In this sermon on the temptation of Jesus, Pastor Corey looks in the difference between ruling through fear and ruling through love, pointing out that it is love, not fear that can change the world for the better.
Another year another take on the Transfiguration. This time Pastor Corey focuses not on the journey down the mountain, but rather on our time spent on it. In times like this sometimes it's all we can do to rest in the presence of Christ and love and allow tomorrow to deal with tomorrow.
What can we learn about the gospel from our entertainment? Quite a bit as it turns out. Movies are some of the most prevalent models and teachers of ethics we have in our day and so digging into them and seeing them for their value can be important.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey digs into 2021's Encanto, looking at it for what it can teach us about family and about the health of the Church.
What can we learn about the gospel from our entertainment? Quite a bit as it turns out. Movies are some of the most prevalent models and teachers of ethics we have in our day and so digging into them and seeing them for their value can be important.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey digs into 2015's The Little Prince and what it can teach us about love.
What can we learn about the gospel from our entertainment? Quite a bit as it turns out. Movies are some of the most prevalent models and teachers of ethics we have in our day and so digging into them and seeing them for their value can be important.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey digs into 2019's Frozen II and looks at it for its lessons about strength and perseverance in the face of hopelessness.
What can we learn about the gospel from our entertainment? Quite a bit as it turns out. Movies are some of the most prevalent models and teachers of ethics we have in our day and so digging into them and seeing them for their value can be important.
In this sermon, Pastor Corey digs into 2016's Moana and looks at it for its lessons about forgiveness, empathy, and love for enemies.
A sermon that starts with MLK and ends with our own mission. How can we reframe the narrative so that we look at what's considered extraordinary and see it instead as common?
A sermon on John 2:1-11, Jesus turning the water into wine. Learn about the amount of wine Jesus transformed and what that image means for us today.
This week takes us to Epiphany, or more specifically it takes us to the attempt by Herod on Jesus' life. When power meets powerlessness that it perceives as a threat it doesn't go well for the powerless. But sometimes it seems that the ones on the outside are the ones who respond to the invitation.
In this 5 part series Pastor Corey will be recounting the story of A Christmas Carol and reflecting on what it means for us today and how we might use it to live our own lives in a way that is more Christ-centered while also holding on to hope for the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ.
In this 5 part series Pastor Corey will be recounting the story of A Christmas Carol and reflecting on what it means for us today and how we might use it to live our own lives in a way that is more Christ-centered while also holding on to hope for the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ.
In this 5 part series Pastor Corey will be recounting the story of A Christmas Carol and reflecting on what it means for us today and how we might use it to live our own lives in a way that is more Christ-centered while also holding on to hope for the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ.
In this 5 part series Pastor Corey will be recounting the story of A Christmas Carol and reflecting on what it means for us today and how we might use it to live our own lives in a way that is more Christ-centered while also holding on to hope for the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ.
In this 5 part series Pastor Corey will be recounting the story of A Christmas Carol and reflecting on what it means for us today and how we might use it to live our own lives in a way that is more Christ-centered while also holding on to hope for the transformation of the world in Jesus Christ.
The antichrist! The mark of the beast! Eschaton! Apocalypse! Armageddon! All of these words have a habit of creating within us a sense of fear and anxiety- but what does the bible actually mean by apocalypse? In this hopeful sermon Pastor Corey offers a vision of stories that reflect hope rather than despair.
We all hold within us varying degrees of fear of death and often it is treated as a shortcoming or a sin, but if life is a gift is it a problem to be afraid? Christ gives us hope for life abundant and with that hope we can respond to that fear in ways that heal rather than hurt.
If God is love and we are called to love God with all ourselves and to love our neighbor as ourselves are we called to love God, self, and other as though we are loving equally?
Who is the greatest in the Kingdom? The lowest, the servant of all- at least if Jesus is to be believed.
Offered October 10th, 2021.
Where are the disparities between the world Christ offers as the Kingdom of God and the world we live in and how might we begin to move towards the Kingdom in the world in which we live?
Offered October 3rd, 2021.
A sermon on how we approach scripture and why we need more than a basic reading.
Offered September 19th, 2021.
A sermon on the difference between Shalom and peace. How it is we might understand a peace that it positive verses a peace that is negative.
Offered September 12, 2021
This week Pastor Corey talks about the nature of atonement and how it is different people have come to understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it is we can learn love through our diversity of ideas.
Offered September 5th, 2021.
Pastor Corey preaches on the importance of holding the poor and the worker in high esteem and how it is the world all-too-often doesn't.
Offered August 29th, 2021.
Pastor Corey preaches on how it is that people judge each other by their actions and appearances.
Offered August 22nd, 2021.
Pastor Corey points out who we contend with according to Paul, and what we are to arm ourselves in so as to best guard against it.
Offered August 15, 2021.
Proper 14, Pastor Corey takes us into the story of the death of Absalom and follows the threads that led up to it, examining how the story could have ended earlier if the cycle of sin had been ended.
Offered August 1, 2021.
Proper 13, Pastor Corey talks about the nature of what it means to be one people and what it means to be working towards a common end.
Content warning: this sermon deals with the topic of sexual assault
Offered July 25, 2021.
Proper 11, Pastor Corey preaches on how it is that we tend to allow the dominant perspectives of our society to shape how we read Scripture and how it is only through reframing the story and reading the text as it is presented that we can come to see it for what it is. He does this through the story of David and Bathsheba and how we've allowed it to be twisted away from a story about sexual assault and an abuse of power into one of the sinfulness of adultery.
Offered July 18, 2021.
Proper 10, Pastor Corey preaches on the nature of how Christ builds us up and how the powers of the world attempt to tear us down.
Offered July 11, 2021.
Pastor Corey's first sermon delivered at Simpson UMC in which he introduces himself to the congregation.
The fourth week in Lent, delivered March 22nd, 2020.
Time travel back to the beginning of the pandemic as Pastor Corey was delivering his first sermon following the news of COVID-19 and the quarantine, in this sermon Pastor Corey talks about what it means to be blindsided and to have our eyes opened to others and their suffering.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The first week in Lent, delivered March 8th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the nature of new birth and seeing with fresh eyes, oh and he sings another Mr. Rogers song in this one.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The first week in Lent, delivered March 1st, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the power Christ was offered in the wilderness versus the power of God found in love alone.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Ash Wednesday, delivered February 26th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the topic of death and overcoming our fear of it as we recall that we are dust and to dust we shall return.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Transfiguration Sunday, Matt 17:1-9, delivered February 23rd, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the transfiguration, what are our mountaintop experiences? How do we honor them while also realizing when it's time to come down?
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The sixth Sunday after Epiphany, Matt 5:21-48, delivered February 16th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on three teachings of Christ offered during his Sermon on the Mount. What do they mean for us today and how might we apply them to our own world?
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Matt 5:1-12, delivered February 2nd, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the beatitudes, how do we follow Christ's example as best we can? By living into the beatitudes.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The third Sunday after Epiphany, 1 Cor 1:10-18, delivered January 26th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the tension between remaining in unity and justice. Why do we remain united? Is it for unity's sake alone or is it so we may grow as a community in love?
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The Second Sunday after Epiphany, John 1:29-42, delivered January 19th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the Mystery of God and the Call to Adventure that Discipleship is.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Isaiah 42:1-9, delivered January 12th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on baptism and living as though we are dead to sin and alive to Christ, a word is dedicated to the present situation with Iran and the church's stance on warfare.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Epiphany Sunday, Matthew 2:1-12, delivered January 5th, 2020.
Pastor Corey's sermon on inclusion and what it is that happens when Power is denied someone to blame.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The first Sunday after Christmas, Matthew 2:13-23, delivered December 29th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on cliffhanger endings, the future, and where we're going in the next 10 years.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The fourth Sunday in Advent, Isaiah 7:10-16, delivered December 22nd, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on grief versus weariness and the gift grief can hold.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The third Sunday in Advent, Luke 1:46-55, delivered December 15th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on listening to the voices of the marginalized and hearing the hope that can only come from the oppressed.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The second Sunday in Advent, Isaiah 11:1-10, delivered December 8th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on violence and the place it holds in the promise of God's Kingdom.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
The first Sunday in Advent, Matthew 24:36-44, delivered December 1st, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on fear and what it can do, for good or for evil.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Christ the King Sunday, Luke 23:33-43, delivered November 24th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the crucifixion of Christ and what it means for us as we enter into a new Kingdom.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 28, Luke 21:5-19, delivered November 17th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on allegiance in the midst of temporary kingdoms.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, delivered November 10th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the work of the Church.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 26, Luke 19:1-10, delivered November 3rd, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on repentance and reconcilliation.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 25, Luke 18:9-14, delivered October 27th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the cry for mercy and humility.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 24, Luke 18:1-8, delivered October 20th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on pursuing justice in the face of injustice.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 22, Luke 17:5-10, delivered October 6th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on faith the size of a mustard seed, the story of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 11, Luke 10:38-42, delivered July 21st, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on work and rest in a world of rush.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 21, Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, delivered September 29th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on hope and what it is that we are investing in as Christians.
This is the fourth and final part of a four-part series preaching through Jeremiah.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 19, Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, delivered September 15th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on God and the question of evil, where is God in the evils of life? Does God cause suffering? Does God will evil?
This is the third of a four-part series preaching through Jeremiah.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 18, Jeremiah 18:1-11, delivered September 8th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on our unity as clay and the Body of Christ and the risk of not following our mission as the Church.
This is the second of a four part series preaching through Jeremiah.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 17, Jeremiah 2:4-13, delivered September 1st, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the purpose of economic systems as they relate to life and service to the good.
This is the first in a four part series on Jeremiah.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 16, Luke 13:10-17, delivered August 25th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on law vs love and grace.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 12, Luke 11:1-13, delivered July 28th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the concept of enough.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 10, Luke 10:25-37, delivered July 14th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on neighborliness. (The sermon in which he sings "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 15, Luke 12:49-56, delivered August 18th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the divisiveness of love as exhibited by Christ.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 14, Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, delivered August 11th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the justice of God and the question of our prayers and God's willingness to hear prayers without action.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.
Proper 13, Luke 12:13-21, delivered August 4th, 2019.
Pastor Corey's sermon on the divisiveness of the Kingdom of God and what Christ is preparing us for.
Intro music cred is Sari Brown's, "Hold Sway", check her out on Soundcloud.