From The Pulpit of DUMC: Recent Episodes
DUMC
God is present in the chaos.
When life shakes around us, God has not left us.
Bring your whole self to God.
Faith does not require pretending. God can handle our questions, fears, anger, and joy.
Look for God along the road.
God often shows up through ordinary people who love, help, listen, and stay.
Be still enough to notice.
In the noise and uncertainty of life, make room to hear God’s voice and recognize God’s presence.
We do not travel alone.
When we struggle to see or trust God, the church can help carry our faith for us.
Bottom LineWhen the road is uncertain and fear is real, God still shows up. Be still, pay attention, and remember: you do not travel alone.
- Loving your neighbor is an action, not just a feeling.
- Compassion often begins where comfort ends.
- Don't let busyness keep you from seeing someone's need.
- Mercy reflects the heart of Jesus.
- The question isn't "Who is my neighbor?" but "How can I be a neighbor?"
Bottom Line / Weekly TakeawayThis week, look for one opportunity to stop, show compassion, and love someone the way Jesus loves you. Go and do likewise.
Sermon Take Home Notes* Worship comes before our mission. * Small, faithful steps lead to lasting transformation. * The empty tomb gives us hope for every challenge we face. * Our habits shape our faith and prepare us for God's work. * We are called to share the hope of Jesus with others. * Your next faithful step matters.
Weekly Bottom LineThe path to changing the world begins with worship and one faithful step at a time.
Take Home Notes* Jesus sends ordinary people to do extraordinary things. * We do not go alone. Christ goes before us and with us. * The first gift we offer others is peace. * Hospitality and welcome are part of sharing the Gospel. * God can use simple acts of kindness to prepare the way for Christ.
Weekly TakeawayThis week, ask yourself: "How can I bring the peace of Christ into the places and people I encounter?"
Short Closing LineCarry peace. Offer welcome. Make room for Christ to be known.
Sermon Take Home Notes* We all struggle, and God meets us with grace, not condemnation. * You don't have to earn God's love. You already belong. * Shame says, "Try harder." Grace says, "Come closer." * Spiritual growth is learning to live as the person God created you to be. * Open hands receive what closed hands cannot: God's transforming grace.
Bottom LineYou have nothing to prove because you are already God's beloved.
Take Home Notes:
• God loved us first
We do not earn God’s love. It is freely given through grace.
• Love should shape how we see others
Every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity.
• Faith without love misses the point
Religion, knowledge, and tradition mean little if love is absent.
• We cannot receive love and refuse to give it
God calls us to extend the same grace we have been shown.
• Make love your lens
Let love guide how you respond to people, situations, and the world around you.
Bottom Line / One Takeaway:
If God’s love has changed your life, let love shape the way you live, see others, and reflect Christ every day.
1. You Are Not Running Alone
God has surrounded you with people who encourage, guide, and strengthen your faith.
2. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
What we focus on shapes how we live. Fix your heart on Christ above everything else.
3. Joy Comes Before the Struggle
We do not earn God’s love. We live from the joy of already being loved.
4. Worship Changes Perspective
When life feels overwhelming, worship helps refocus your heart and renew your soul.
5. Run the Race With Endurance
Faith is not about speed. It is about trusting God and continuing forward.
Short Closing TakeawayYou may feel surrounded by life’s pressures, but in Christ, you are surrounded by grace. Keep running. Keep trusting. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
What to Remember This Week:
• Peace is not the reward after life gets easier. It starts with God.
• You do not need all the answers to trust God with what’s ahead.
• God’s presence is more powerful than explanations.
• Christ has already gone before you, so you are never walking alone.
• Whatever lies ahead, the peace of Christ is already with you.
Short Bottom Line (great for graphics/video overlays)“Peace isn’t found when uncertainty ends. Peace begins when we trust God.”
Remember This Week:• God is present in every transition.
• Change may be uncomfortable, but it can also be a blessing.
• God is still shaping and transforming us.
• Faith means trusting God with what comes next.
• You're not finished because God is not finished with you.
Weekly PracticeWhen you face a change this week, pause and pray:
"God, help me trust what You are doing, even when I cannot yet see it."
God Is LoveGod is not waiting for you to become worthy of love.
God already loves you.
The Gospel Brings HopeJesus did not come to condemn the world.
Jesus came to heal, restore, and save it.
Love Is Our CallingThe church is not a museum preserving the past.
The church is a movement bringing God's love to the world.
Build Bridges, Not WallsKeep welcoming. Keep serving. Keep reaching outward.
Three Things to RememberBe grateful.
Love with your whole heart.
Do no harm, do all the good you can, and stay in love with God.
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God is love. Christ is God's love in the flesh. And because of that, God is always with us and for us.
- God is not the God of “the way it was,” but the God of something new.
- Change is hard, but God can bring renewal through it.
- Jesus’ ascension was not abandonment. It was a sending.
- We are called to carry hope into everyday life.
- Witnessing to faith is often simple and relational. Walk with people.
- The resurrection proves that endings are not final with God.
- The church is called to be a people of hope, renewal, and new beginnings.
- Jesus promises: “I will not leave you orphaned.”
- The Holy Spirit is seen through love in action.
- Loving others makes Christ visible to the world.
- Compassion speaks louder than words.
- We can help people experience the love of Jesus today.
1. Don’t let fear lead your life
The world runs on anxiety, but the Gospel invites us into trust.
2. Jesus doesn’t give a map. He gives himself
Faith is not certainty. It’s relationship.
3. “The Way” is a way of living
Not a path to get somewhere, but a life shaped by love, grace, and presence.
4. Love is the antidote to fear
Fear builds walls. Love breaks them down.
5. Following Jesus is a daily choice
Choose:
- Love over control
- Welcome over exclusion
- Grace over judgment
6. Christianity is not just something to believe
It’s a life to live.
7. You are not walking alone
Jesus walks with you through every unknown and every fear.
Simple Practice for the Week:When you feel anxious or overwhelmed, pause and ask:
“What would it look like to choose love right now?”
Then take one small step in that direction.
- Jesus brings unlikely people together
Unity across differences is part of the Gospel. - The early church lived differently
They shared, cared, and made sure no one was in need. - Love was their defining mark
People noticed because it wasn’t normal. - The church is called to be different
Not shaped by culture, but shaped by Christ. - Faith is a way of life
Generosity, sacrifice, and community. - Following Jesus will make you stand out
The truth doesn’t make you fit in, it makes you “odd.” - Live it out this week
Choose love, even when it feels different.
1. We all live by a “song.”
The world is constantly shaping what we believe and how we live.
2. Not every song is good for the soul.
Messages of power, fear, and division are loud, but they are not God’s song.
3. Worship teaches us God’s song.
We gather not just to hear it, but to let it take root in our hearts.
4. God’s song is love.
It begins with this truth: “I love you.”
5. We are meant to carry the song outward.
Faith is not just for Sunday. The world needs to hear it through us.
6. We don’t sing alone.
People like Kevin help us learn and live the song together.
7. Even in a “strange land”… sing.
Especially in hard or uncertain times, the world needs God’s song more than ever.
1. The church is more than what we do
It’s not programs, buildings, or branding. That’s not the essence.
2. Jesus meets us in our fear
The disciples were hiding… and Jesus showed up anyway.
3. We don’t have to have it all together
Doubt, questions, and uncertainty don’t disqualify us. Even Thomas was met with grace.
4. The church is Christ’s presence among us
We are the church because Jesus is with us. Not because we are perfect.
5. Peace comes before purpose
Jesus first says, “Peace be with you”… then He sends them.
6. We are sent to live like Easter people
Not just in church, but in everyday life… at work, at home, in our relationships.
Easter means:
- God breaks cycles we thought were permanent
- Death, fear, and brokenness don’t get the final word
- The worst thing is never the last thing
- There is life even in the places that feel “dead”
- Love wins
What this means for us:
- We don’t have to live stuck in fear or defeat
- We can bring Jesus into the hardest parts of our lives
- We can choose forgiveness, hope, and courage
- We can live like resurrection is real
Simple Practice This Week:
Identify one “small tomb” in your life
(a fear, habit, relationship, or burden)
Then ask:
“What would it look like to invite Jesus into this?”
- Palm Sunday reveals two parades: one of power (Pilate), one of peace (Jesus).
- Jesus enters not with force, but with humility on a donkey.
- The crowd expected a king who would take power, but Jesus came to transform it.
- It’s possible to celebrate Jesus and still misunderstand His mission.
- The kingdom of Jesus is marked by peace, compassion, mercy, and grace.
- Following Jesus means more than words, it means living differently.
- Palm Sunday asks: Are you part of the Jesus parade, and do you understand where it’s leading?
Simple Practice for the Week:
Each day, choose one moment to reflect Jesus’ way, serve someone, show compassion, or respond with grace instead of control.
- Faith is personal
Jesus doesn’t ask what others believe, He asks you. Faith becomes real when we claim it for ourselves. - Grace has been with you all along
Before you ever chose God, God was already reaching toward you through people, moments, and experiences. - Saying “yes” is just the beginning
Confirmation is not the finish line. It’s the start of a lifelong journey of growing in faith. - We grow through community
Faith isn’t meant to be lived alone. We learn how to follow Jesus by walking alongside others. - The church has a responsibility
Young people are not just the future of the church. They are the church right now. How we live shapes their faith. - Faith is not about having it all figured out
It’s about continuing to follow Jesus through questions, doubt, joy, and struggle.
1. Faith changes how we see.
Faith is not closing our eyes. It is learning to see the world clearly through God’s grace.
2. Suffering is not about blame.
Jesus redirects us from asking “Who is at fault?” to noticing what God is doing.
3. A changed life is powerful evidence.
Like the healed man said: “I was blind, but now I see.”
4. We can be blind without realizing it.
Pride, assumptions, and comfort can keep us from seeing God at work.
5. Kingdom vision sees people differently.
Through Christ we begin to see others as beloved children of God.
6. Jesus seeks us out.
Even when we feel rejected or pushed aside, Christ comes looking for us.
Lenten Invitation:
Ask God to open your eyes so you can see the world, and others, through the light of Christ.
The Bible tells one big story.
From Genesis to Revelation, the gospel is the good news that God loves the world.
God loves the real you.
Not the version you pretend to be, but you as you are.
Jesus came to save, not condemn.
John 3:17 reminds us that Christ came to rescue the world.
The church should reflect Jesus.
Instead of pointing fingers, we open our arms in grace.
Our calling this week:
Help others experience God’s love.
1. Jesus crossed boundaries.
He spoke to someone others avoided. Faith often begins by stepping across lines we did not draw.
2. Conversation builds what division tears down.
Jesus and the woman built a relationship. In the process, centuries of hostility began to crumble.
3. People matter more than systems.
Jesus cared more about her life and salvation than about social rules.
4. Deep change requires real dialogue.
This was not a quick exchange. It was honest, personal, and transformative.
5. Unity starts one conversation at a time.
We do not have to fix the world. We can begin with one person. One conversation. One step toward trust.
Lenten Challenge:
Who is one person you could sit down with this week and truly talk to?
The TemptationsFirst Sunday of Lent
Matthew 4:1–11
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The Temptations Are Ours TooJesus was tempted with comfort, power, and status.
We face the same pull toward self first living. -
Jesus Chose ObedienceWhere others chose self, Jesus chose faithfulness.
He trusted God instead of chasing control. -
The Kingdom Looks DifferentNot built on greed or ego.
But on mercy, service, generosity, justice, and peace. -
We Get to ChooseEvery day we choose who we follow.
Self or Christ.
Power or service. -
Grace Is Still ThereEven when we fail.
God’s grace always welcomes us back.
Listen to Him – Matthew 17:1–9
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We Live in a Noisy WorldMany voices compete for our attention.
God’s voice cuts through the noise:
“This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” -
The Mountain Reveals Who Jesus IsOn the mountain, the disciples see Christ’s glory.
The One who shines in light is the same One who stepped into the water with us.
Fully divine. Fully human. Close to us. -
Mountaintop Moments MatterWe all experience moments of clarity and grace.
In worship. In prayer. In love. In creation.
These moments are not escapes.
They are maps for when life feels foggy. -
The Mountain Is Not the DestinationJesus leads the disciples back down.
Following Him means moving toward real life.
Toward need. Toward suffering. Toward the cross. -
Lent Is a Season of ListeningQuiet the other voices.
Refocus your heart.
Hear again Christ’s invitation:
“Follow me. Do not be afraid.”
Remember This:The God of the mountaintop is not distant.
In Jesus, God is right here.
As close as your breath.
Listen to Him.
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Blessing Is Not the ContainerWe spend much of life building security, success, and comfort.
Jesus cares less about the container and more about what fills it. -
Empty Space Makes Room for God“Blessed are the poor in spirit” means there is room for God to work.
When we stop relying on ourselves, grace has space to enter. -
Jesus Invites Relationship, Not CertaintyJesus does not offer quick answers or a step by step program.
He simply says, follow me. Walk with me. Come and see. -
The Kingdom Is Upside DownThe world values power, success, and control.
Jesus lifts up humility, mercy, peacemaking, and compassion. -
Blessing Is Found in ProximityFrom the margins we see people, not problems.
Jesus is already there, and that is where blessing breaks through. -
The Beatitudes Describe RealityThey are not rules to follow.
They reveal what life looks like when God reigns. -
With Less of Us, There Is More of GodLife itself is a gift.
Every breath is grace.
Blessing begins with gratitude.
1. Jesus is the light
Jesus brings light into darkness, hope into despair, and clarity into confusion. His light shows us a different way to live.
2. Following Jesus begins with an invitation
Jesus did not argue or coerce. He simply said, “Follow me,” and invited people into a new and more compelling life.
3. Everyone is shaped by a way of life
There is no neutral ground. We are all formed by something. Culture, fear, success, distraction, or the kingdom of God.
4. Evangelism is not pressure or persuasion
Inviting others into faith is not about guilt, fear, or proving we are right. It is about sharing a gift we have freely received.
5. Evangelism looks like sharing bread
Like one hungry person telling another where to find food, faith is shared by saying, “I found life here, and there is room for you too.”
6. The kingdom of God offers a better way
Jesus invites us into a way of life marked by love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, and peace.
7. Invitation flows from a changed life
When we live differently, listen deeply, and love generously, invitation becomes natural.
8. There is room at the table
God’s table is abundant. The call is simple. Do not keep the good news to yourself. Who is one person you can invite to come and be fed?
- God Is Our RefugeWhen life feels unsettled or noisy, God remains steady and present.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46
Remember: We do not face uncertainty alone.
- Noise Drowns Out What MattersOur world is full of voices, opinions, and constant chatter.
More words do not always bring more wisdom.
Remember: Not all noise deserves our attention.
- Listening Is a Spiritual PracticeListening is not passive. It is an act of faith.
We cannot truly listen to one another if we are not first listening to God.
Remember: Listening is a habit of the heart.
- Silence Makes Space for GodSilence helps us slow down and notice God’s presence.
In stillness, we learn to hear the still, small voice of God.
Remember: Silence is not empty. It is full of God.
- Begin with a Simple PrayerWe do not need fancy words to listen well.
“Lord, speak, for your servant is listening.”
Remember: God is already speaking. We are invited to listen.
- When We Truly Hear, Our Words Give LifeListening changes how we speak and how we live.
Our words can move from spiritual chatter to words that bring hope and life.
Remember: Listening leads to love.
A Simple Practice for the WeekTake two or three minutes each day to be still.
No agenda. No rushing. Just listening.
Be still. Listen. Trust that God is near.
Big Idea
The letters of the New Testament remind us who we are called to be. Saints. Set apart. Different in a way that points the world to Christ.
Key Scripture
“To the church of God in Corinth… called to be saints.”
1 Corinthians 1:2
Key Points to Remember
Most of the New Testament is made up of letters written to real churches with real problems.
When we read these letters, we are reading someone else’s mail, but God still speaks to us through them today.
Paul calls the Corinthians saints, not because they were perfect, but because they were called to live differently.
A saint is not a super Christian. A saint is someone set apart in love, humility, justice, and compassion.
Being set apart does not mean being better than others. It means reflecting Christ in how we live.
The world should see generosity instead of greed, welcome instead of exclusion, peace instead of violence.
Even when the church falls short, God does not give up on us. We are still called, loved, and invited to grow.
A Question to Reflect On
When the world looks at my life, what do they see?
Do they see something that points them toward Jesus?
A Prayer to Carry With You
“Thank you, God, that you judge us not by the perfection of our actions, but by our readiness to live boldly in faith.”
Living It Out This Week
Look for one small way to live set apart this week through generosity, kindness, justice, or peace so others might catch a glimpse of God’s kingdom.
1. Baptism reveals who Jesus is
Jesus is named as God’s Beloved Son. From the very beginning, His ministry is grounded in love, presence, and grace.
2. Baptism reveals who we are
We are claimed by God, forgiven, and given a new identity. We are not defined by our past, our labels, or our worst days.
3. Baptism is a beginning, not magic
The water does not make life perfect, but it marks us. Each day is an invitation to live into who God says we are.
4. Jesus gets in the water with us
God is not distant. Christ enters our mess, our pain, and our uncertainty and stands with us.
5. Our primary identity is in Christ
Baptism reshapes our allegiance. We belong first to the kingdom of God, where love of neighbor comes before everything else.
6. Remember your baptism daily
When fear, division, or shame tries to tell you another story, remember who you are and to whom you belong. You are God’s beloved.
Epiphany is about revelation
Jesus shows us what God is like through love, mercy, and humility.
God’s light often comes in unexpected places
The Magi found God not in power, but in vulnerability.
Not all light leads to life
Consumerism, fear, and division promise brightness but leave us empty.
The light of Christ reveals and frees us
It uncovers who we truly are and invites us to live honestly and whole.
Every person bears sacred worth
Because God became human, every neighbor shines with dignity and value.
Following Jesus changes our direction
Like the Magi, encountering Christ means we do not go home the same way.
Our calling is to be the light
The world will know God’s love by how we love one another.
Christmas is more than history
Christmas is not just about something that happened 2,000 years ago. It is about what God is still doing today.
God does not wait for perfection
We often think we need to fix ourselves before God can enter our lives. Christmas tells us God comes right into the mess.
God moved in
At Christmas, God put on flesh and became our neighbor. God chose closeness over distance.
“For you is born a Savior”
This message is personal. Not just for the world, but for you right where you are.
A Savior comes to heal
The word Savior points to healing and wholeness. God desires peace within us and between us.
God wants relationship, not debate
God is not just an idea to think about. God is seeking connection and love.
Christmas is an invitation
As John Wesley said, the best of all is God is with us. And as Martin Luther and Meister Eckhart reminded the church, Christ longs to be born in us.
Make room for Christ
The heart of Christmas is allowing Christ to dwell within us so that love, healing, and hope can shape our lives.
-) Fear can cloud our vision and lead us away from God’s heart
-) God often works most powerfully in moments that feel broken
-) The more excellent way is not legalism, but love
-) Compassion and mercy reflect the heart of God
-) Saying yes to God does not remove fear, but it leads us through it
-) Love is not a feeling but a faithful, lived commitment
-) God is with us even when life is not going according to plan
-) What feels like an ending may be the beginning of something more beautiful
• Isaiah calls out injustice but also promises hope.
• A new shoot from the stump of Jesse points to Jesus, who brings justice and peace.
• The peaceable kingdom isn’t only about heaven. It starts here when we live out Christ’s teaching.
• Peace is possible, but it takes effort, sacrifice, and intention.
• Jesus blesses peacemakers, not peace admirers.
• Advent invites us to work for peace in our homes, relationships, and communities.
• Small acts of peace matter. They move the world closer to what God desires.
1. Advent is a season of active waiting.
We pause, pay attention, and prepare our hearts for Christ to meet us again.
2. Matthew 24 isn’t about predicting the end.
It’s a reminder to stay faithful in the present, not to look for an escape.
3. God’s future is unfolding now.
With Jesus’ coming, the world has already begun to be reshaped. Our call is to join that work.
4. Don’t cling to what’s passing away.
Institutions and old systems fade. God’s kingdom endures.
5. The faithful remain to rebuild.
In Noah’s story, those “left behind” were the ones partnering with God to renew the world.
6. Our task is to live with intention.
Show mercy, work for justice, love your neighbor, care for creation. This is how we wait well.
7. Hope grows through action.
God shows up in surprising ways, and we’re invited to be part of the renewing work one person at a time.
8. The question isn’t when Christ will come, but how we live until he does.
Be alert. Be faithful. Plant seeds of God’s new creation today.
Takeaways:
• God is doing a new thing even when we can’t yet see it.
• The worst things are never the last things.
• Our calling is to be a sign of hope, not a gatekeeper of it.
• God’s future is one of joy, healing, and renewal for all creation.
• Live so others can glimpse God’s new day breaking in.
Take Home Notes:Scripture: Matthew 14:13–21
Theme: God’s abundance meets our faithfulness.
Main Points:
Grace in Action:
Grace isn’t a thing God gives—it’s God giving us Himself in Jesus Christ.
The Myth of Scarcity:
The world says there’s not enough time, love, or resources. God says, “There is more than enough.”
You Feed Them:
Jesus calls us to meet the needs of others with what we have—trusting God to make it sufficient.
Abundance in Christ:
In Jesus’ hands, our “not enough” becomes more than enough.
Faithful Stewardship:
Generosity is an act of trust—believing that God will provide for every need.
Reflection Question:
Where is God inviting you to trust that He is enough?
Key Quote:
“Jesus says, give me your nothing, and taken, blessed, broken, and given, it becomes all that is needed.”
1. God’s Word is Living Light
Scripture isn’t just information; it’s God’s presence lighting our path. It gives enough light for the next faithful step, even when the road ahead is unclear.
2. The Bible Is a Gift That Lasts a Lifetime
Today’s third graders receive more than a book; they receive a lifelong companion that offers wisdom, comfort, and hope.
3. Scripture Shapes, Not Just Informs
Reading the Bible isn’t about mastering words but being transformed by them. God’s Word molds our character, our choices, and our compassion.
4. We Are All Lightbearers
Every act of kindness, forgiveness, and gentleness shines God’s light into the world. Children learn what Scripture means by watching how we live it.
5. Grace Is Always Enough
God’s love doesn’t depend on perfection. Grace means we can always begin again because love is endlessly renewing itself in us.
6. Keep the Lamp Burning
Make space for Scripture in your daily rhythm. Read, pray, and reflect with others. Let your life become a lamp that helps someone else find their way home.
Scripture Focus: Luke 17:11-19
Main Idea: Gratitude builds a strong foundation of faith; it makes us whole, not just healed.
Key Points:
Leprosy isolated people, but Jesus restored them through compassion.
The Samaritan leper, the outsider, was the only one who returned to give thanks.
Gratitude changes us from the inside out. It transforms healing into wholeness.
Faith built on gratitude helps us stand firm when life erodes around us.
Being grateful doesn’t ignore pain; it gives us strength to face it with hope.
Reflection Questions:
Where do you see “modern lepers” in your life, people pushed aside or overlooked?
How can you practice gratitude this week, even in difficult moments?
What is the foundation your faith is built on?
Takeaway:
Gratitude is more than good manners; it’s how we become whole in Christ.
Faith is a legacy, passed down through generations of believers.
We each are a gift to the body of Christ, uniquely called to serve.
United Women in Faith model what it means to live a sincere faith through service, justice, and compassion.
“If we lack peace, it’s because we’ve forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa
Ask yourself: Where is worship sending me this week?
-) We are saved by grace, not by works, but created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2).
-) Worship, Belonging, and Growing prepare us to live out our faith through Impact.
-) The church makes God’s love real when we serve others in Jesus’ name.
-) Impact is not optional—it’s the game we were created to play.
-) Every act of compassion, generosity, or service is a way to share Christ’s love.
Key PointsWe don’t settle. God offers more than being “a little better.” We are invited to be transformed into Christ’s likeness.
Growth is discipleship. Worship and belonging lead us into intentional spiritual formation—through study, prayer, fellowship, and service.
John Wesley’s vision: To be “altogether Christian” means loving God fully, loving neighbor deeply, and trusting God completely.
Holiness is the goal. God’s aim is not just smarter or nicer people, but holy people who live and love like Jesus.
The early church grew through teaching, prayer, breaking bread, serving, and generosity. The same practices form us today.
Pathway for GrowthWorship weekly
Pray daily
Read Scripture consistently
Join a group for learning and accountability
Serve to make a difference
Give joyfully and generously
Scripture“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” – Romans 12:2
ReflectionWhere am I settling for “good enough” instead of pursuing holiness?
How am I intentionally creating space to grow in faith?
What next step can I take this week on the pathway of discipleship?
-) We all need a place to belong.
-) Belonging is deeper than fitting in—you can be fully you.
-) In Christ, we belong to God and to each other.
-) The church must be a community of radical welcome.
-) Our belonging shows the world God’s love is real.
Sermon Title: Worship
Series: A Future with Hope
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8
Worship is the center of our life together, the foundation for belonging, growing, and making an impact.
Worship draws us out of ourselves and focuses our attention on God.
Engaging and inspiring worship changes us, connects us with God and one another, and opens us to God’s grace.
Like Isaiah, we encounter God in worship and are sent to live out God’s mission in the world.
Worship is not just one hour on Sunday, it shapes every hour of our lives.
Reflection Questions
What comes to mind when you hear the word “worship”?
Why do you attend worship? What is your favorite part of worship and why?
Recall a moment in worship when you experienced the presence of God. What difference did that experience make in how you see and engage the world?
Where and to whom is worship sending you? Sending Davidson UMC?
Is there someone you could invite to join you in worship at Davidson UMC?
Acts is an open story. Luke leaves the ending unresolved because the mission continues with us.
Faithfulness is possible because of Christ. We don’t rely on our own strength but on the faithfulness of Jesus.
God’s love wins. Even in hardship, rejection, or loss, the resurrection declares that God’s love is stronger than sin and death.
Small things matter. Every act of kindness, generosity, justice, and witness is part of God’s kingdom work.
You are needed. Each person has a unique role in God’s mission—the story of Acts is still being written through us.
Scripture: Acts 26:9–18, 28–29
Main Points:
We are called to be witnesses.
Every Christian life tells a story; our words and actions communicate something about God to the world.
Meeting Jesus changes everything.
Paul knew about Jesus, but his life changed only when he came to know Jesus personally. Our relationship with Christ makes our witness possible.
Key Quotes:
“Your life may be the only sermon someone ever hears. Live it well.”
“Knowing about Jesus made no difference to Paul. Knowing Jesus changed his life forever.”
Reflection Questions:
What story is your life telling right now?
Where might God be opening a door for you to share hope with someone?
How are you nurturing your relationship with Jesus so your witness flows from love?
Takeaway:
Grace always takes the first step toward us. Like Paul, we are met by Jesus, changed by Jesus, and sent to tell the story of God’s love.
Main Idea
Courage doesn’t come before we act. It comes as we step out in faith, trusting that the Holy Spirit will meet us and give us strength in the moment.
Key Points
Paul knew danger awaited him, yet he pressed forward, confident that God was with him.
Like a firefighter running into a burning building, Paul’s courage came from serving someone greater than himself.
Jesus’ words came true: “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) Paul used wisdom to speak and act with boldness.
Courage grows like a muscle. The more we use it, the stronger it becomes.
The Holy Spirit is always ahead of us, waiting to give us the words, wisdom, and courage we need.
Scripture to Remember
“Keep up your courage... for I have work for you yet to do.” – Acts 23:11
For Reflection
Where in your life is God calling you to step beyond what feels safe?
What “burning buildings” in our world—poverty, injustice, division—need us to step into with courage?
How can you trust the Spirit to give you courage in the moment instead of waiting to feel ready?
Takeaway
Faith calls us deeper. Courage awaits us not before, but in the act of following Christ into the hard and holy places of this world.
Title: A Life Worth Following
Sermon Take-Home Notes
God is With Us – John Wesley’s final words, “The best of all is, God is with us,” are a reminder that God’s presence is constant—in joy, trials, weakness, and weariness.
Paul’s Farewell – In Acts 20:17-35, Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders reveal his deepest priority: not comfort, reputation, or legacy, but faithfulness to the gospel and finishing the race God gave him.
Imitating Christ – Faith grows through imitation. Paul followed Christ so closely that others could follow him. We are shaped by those who walk in the way of Jesus, and we shape others as they watch us.
People Are Watching – Our presence, words, and actions—especially in difficult moments—form the faith of those around us. Even small acts of kindness, patience, and love can have lasting impact.
The Power of the Holy Spirit – We cannot live this life of imitation in our own strength. The same Spirit that empowered Paul and the early church empowers us today to live with grace, courage, and truth.
The Upside-Down Way of Jesus – True life is found in pouring ourselves out in love, not in self-protection. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” In losing ourselves for the sake of Christ, we are filled.
Faithfulness is Communal – Spiritual formation is not just personal—it’s something we practice together, encouraging one another toward love and good deeds.
Your Life Matters – Whether or not you feel influential, you are shaping the faith of others. Live in such a way that your life points not to your own strength, but to God’s grace.
Reflection Questions:
Who are you imitating?
Who is imitating you?
How can you live more intentionally so that your life points others to Christ?
Scripture Focus
Acts 17:1-9
Big Idea
Following Jesus means giving him ultimate allegiance and allowing his upside down kingdom to reshape every part of life.
Key Insights
The early church was known for challenging the status quo because they proclaimed another King—Jesus.
Civil authorities hold only the authority God permits, so every government stands under God’s judgment.
We often seek a gospel that blesses our plans instead of living lives that bless God.
True renewal comes not through programs but through people who take Jesus seriously and follow his way of sacrificial love.
Kingdom Vision
Forgiveness over revenge (Luke 15).
Extravagant generosity that levels the field (Matthew 20).
Humility that serves from the bottom up, not commands from the top down (John 13; Philippians 2).
Reflection Questions
Where do I give Caesar-like powers more loyalty than Jesus?
How might I respond to today’s headlines if I viewed them through the gospel first?
What practical step can I take this week to embody Christ’s generous, servant-hearted kingdom?
Next Steps
Pray daily, “Lord, turn my world right-side up for Your kingdom.”
Look for one tangible way to serve someone on the margins.
Share a story this week of where you saw God’s upside down kingdom break in—then invite a friend to do the same.
Sermon Title: Gathered and Sent
Scripture: Acts 13:1–3
1. Everything flows from the heart.
Howard Thurman said, “Everything we do flows from our center.” If our heart is centered in God, our actions will reflect God's love.
2. Worship, prayer, and fasting come before mission.
The early church didn’t start with strategy or structure—they started with spiritual practices, then sent Paul and Barnabas into the world.
3. We are not just gathered—we are sent.
The church is called to gather for spiritual renewal and then go into the world to serve, love, and witness to Christ.
4. Mission begins here.
You don’t have to go overseas to be a missionary. Your mission field is your workplace, your school, your neighborhood.
5. You are a minister of the gospel.
Your baptism is your commissioning. Whether or not you’re a pastor, you are called to be a witness of God’s love.
6. Keep the rhythm.
A healthy church (and believer) balances both gathering and sending. Leaning too far into one or the other weakens the body.
7. The mission of God has a church.
God’s desire to love and save the world has us—the church—as its instrument. It’s our shared calling to live this out daily.
Reflection Question:
Are you leaning too much into gathering or too much into going? How is God calling you to embrace both?
Closing Encouragement:
You are part of something bigger. You are gathered to be empowered—and sent to make a difference. Let’s be the church our world needs. 🌍✝️
📝 Take Home Notes: No Longer Unclean
Scripture: Acts 11:1-18
Preacher: Rev. David Hockett
🔹 God’s Love Is for All
We are welcomed into God’s family not because of our background, behavior, or beliefs—but because God is love (1 John 4:8). That’s the only reason.
🔹 Peter’s Vision Wasn’t About Food
The vision of the sheet filled with animals wasn’t about dietary rules—it was about people. It was a call to break down boundaries and redefine who is “in.”
🔹 Radical Inclusion Is Not New—It’s Gospel
Peter baptized Gentiles without requiring them to become Jewish first. This act of radical hospitality and trust in the Holy Spirit reshaped the church forever.
🔹 God Shows No Partiality
The Spirit falls where it will. We are not in control of who God includes—and we’re called to welcome whomever God welcomes.
🔹 We Still Struggle with This Today
The early church wrestled with inclusion. So do we. Who are the modern “Gentiles” in your life? Who have you deemed unclean or unworthy?
🔹 In Christ, There Are No Dividing Lines
“In Christ there is no longer Jew or Greek…slave or free…” (Gal. 3:28). That extends today: no red vs. blue, us vs. them. Only God’s beloved children.
🔹 This Is Personal
We are all recipients of this radical love. The story of Cornelius is our story, too. We are here because God includes us.
🕊️ Challenge:
This week, name one “boundary” you hold—whether cultural, political, racial, or religious—and ask God to help you see that person/group through the eyes of grace.
Thanks be to God.
Scripture: Acts 9:1–19
Main Idea: Saul’s transformation into Paul shows us that real change is possible—and that love, not shame or hate, is what brings lasting transformation.
Key Points:
Like Mark Twain, Saul had a troubling past, but he didn’t stay there. God used even his worst moments to tell a new story.
Saul was literally “blinded by the light” of Christ—and came out seeing everything, and everyone, differently.
Ananias had to change too. Forgiving Saul meant letting go of fear, anger, and judgment.
The early church made space for Saul to become Paul. That forgiveness made room for one of the greatest voices in Christian history.
Real change doesn’t come through shame. It comes through love—bold, courageous, Christ-like love.
We must ask ourselves: Are we like Jonah, clinging to resentment? Or like Ananias, ready to welcome transformed lives?
Reflect:
Who have I written off as beyond redemption or change?
Where might God be asking me to lay down resentment or fear?
Am I loving people into belief—or arguing them away from it?
Quote of the Week:
“In the end, we love people into belief. We do not argue them into belief.” – Tim Keller
Next Step:
Pray this week for the eyes to see others—especially those who have hurt or opposed you—as Jesus sees them: full of possibility and beloved by God.
Scripture Focus: Acts 7 – The Martyrdom of Stephen
Key Themes:
Stephen’s Legacy: Stephen was a young man “full of grace,” chosen to serve the early Christian community. He was killed not for his works, but for speaking the truth of Jesus.
Martyria = Witness: The Greek word for martyr also means witness. Stephen's death bore witness to the radical love of Christ—even forgiving his killers, just as Jesus did.
Faith Isn't Always Safe: Jesus warned his followers that discipleship would be hard and would not guarantee safety. True faith is not a self-help strategy but a risky, countercultural way of living.
Fear vs. Love: Fear often drives people to violence, division, and control. Love, by contrast, expands and frees us—even when it leads us into difficult places.
Comfort Can Be a Temptation: The church today may be tempted to keep the “safe” parts of ministry—traditions, programs, professionalism—while leaving out Jesus, whose radical grace and call to servanthood makes people uncomfortable.
A Call to Examine Ourselves: Like the religious leaders, we can be threatened by new movements of God’s Spirit. Ask: What am I afraid of? Where am I resisting love’s call because it feels unsafe?
Faithfulness Over Safety: We are not promised safety. We are promised God's presence. Like Stephen, we can risk boldly for love, trusting we are always in God’s hands.
Reflection Questions:
Where in my life am I playing it safe instead of following where love leads?
How might fear be limiting my faith or my ability to witness to Christ?
What does love require of me today—even if it feels risky or hard?
Quote to Remember:
“Of course he’s not safe. But he is good.” – C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Closing Challenge:
Don’t tiptoe through life. Run, hop, skip, risk, and love boldly. Because even in the hard places, God is already there.
📖 Sermon Notes: “Bold As Love”Rev. Jim Humphries
Series: Summer in the Book of Acts
Scripture: Acts 3:1–4:22
🧠 Key Questions:
What would you do if money were no object?
What would you do if boldness were no object?
How would your life—and our church—look different if we fully lived into the boldness God has already given us?
🔥 Main Themes:
Holy Boldness:
Peter and John, once fearful and silent, now preach and heal with boldness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Power Struggles:
The Sanhedrin felt threatened by the healing and preaching because it challenged their authority and power.
Speaking Truth to Power:
Even under pressure to stay silent, Peter and John declare, “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
The Role of the Church Today:
Like the early disciples, we are called to be a bold church that:
Renounces evil and injustice
Speaks truth to power
Welcomes the stranger
Loves our neighbor
Hears the cry of the needy
✨ Quote of the Week:
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice… but it doesn’t bend by itself.” — Jon Stewart, quoting MLK
➤ It takes bold people of faith to help bend it.
🙋♂️ Reflection Questions:
Where in your life is God calling you to be bold?
What fears or powers are holding you back?
How can you use your voice to resist injustice and offer healing?
What would it look like for Davidson UMC to fully embrace Spirit-led boldness?
🙏 Challenge for the Week:
Pray each day for the Holy Spirit to give you boldness:
“Lord, make me bold for You—bold in love, truth, and action.”
Then, act on one opportunity to speak or serve boldly in Jesus’ name.
1. You Are More Than What Afflicts You
Just like the man who said “I am Legion,” we often define ourselves by our struggles. But Jesus doesn’t see us as problems to fix—He sees us as people to restore.
2. We Are Spiritual Beings Having a Human Experience
In a world that often ignores the spiritual realm, Luke’s Gospel reminds us that forces—good and bad—are real. What you allow to “possess” you shapes who you become.
3. Possession by the Wrong Things is Loud, Lonely, and a Dead End
Like the man in the tombs, when we're controlled by pride, shame, addiction, or fear, we isolate ourselves and lose our true identity.
4. Healing Begins When Jesus Asks, “What’s Your Name?”
Naming your pain and standing in the presence of Christ is where healing starts. It's how God begins restoring you to yourself.
5. Church is Where We Come Up for Air
Like whales needing breath, we need sacred moments to remember who we are and whose we are. Worship is our place to breathe deeply and reconnect with the Spirit.
6. Grace Isn’t Complete Until It Flows Through You
Jesus sends the healed man back home, not to retreat, but to witness. Our healing and restoration are not the end—they are the beginning of a life lived for others.
7. God Won’t Let Go
Like Disney’s rule for character hugs, God never lets go first. When we run to God, we’re held in a love that never leaves—even when we’re sent back into the world.
“Devoted: Living a Long Obedience Together”
Part of our series on the Book of Acts
Scripture Focus: Acts 2:42–47
🕊️ 1. The Church Is a People, Not a Place
The early Christians didn’t just go to church—they were the church. Church is not primarily a building or institution but a community of people devoted to Christ and to one another.
🤝 2. Devotion Means Persistence
The Greek word for “devoted” implies steadfastness, persistence, and long obedience. Faith is not a quick fix or a fleeting feeling—it’s a commitment to showing up, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable.
🙏 3. Four Practices of a Devoted Church
Acts 2 shows us how the early church lived out their devotion:
Teaching – Learning and growing in the faith
Fellowship (Koinonia) – Life together that crosses boundaries
Breaking of Bread – Worship and communion
Prayer – Staying grounded in God’s presence
💡 4. Faith is Incarnational
Christianity is a lived, embodied faith. We grow in Christ together, not alone. Our calling is to live it out in real time, with real people—in all the beauty and mess of community.
🪑 5. There’s a Seat at the Table for Everyone
The invitation is open to all: whether you’re new, returning, wrestling with church, or walking faithfully for years—you belong. If we run out of chairs, we’ll find another one.
⚾ 6. Keep Stepping Up to the Plate
Like a batter in a slump, the way forward is to keep showing up. Growth in faith comes not through instant results, but through steady, persistent devotion to Christ and community.
Reflection Question for the Week:
What’s one way you can devote yourself more fully to life with Christ and the community of faith this week?
🕊️ Pentecost Sunday – Take Home Notes
"Waiting on the Wind: Becoming a Pentecost People"
Rev. David Hockett – Davidson UMC
1. Before Anything Else, They Waited
The disciples didn’t act, teach, or preach until they waited on the Spirit. Pentecost reminds us that the Church is not fueled by human effort but by divine power. Waiting is not passive—it is faithful preparation.
2. The Church is Spirit-Breathed
Unlike any other institution, the Church exists and thrives only through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our work is not about what we can do for God, but what God can do through us.
3. The Spirit Transcends Time, Language, and Culture
At Pentecost, people from all nations and histories heard the gospel in their own languages. God's Spirit breaks down every barrier to form one Church with one mission: love.
4. The Spirit Empowers Us to Live Like Jesus
Being Spirit-filled means more than emotion or experience—it means embodying Christ’s radical love, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy in everyday life.
5. God’s Imagination is Unleashed Through the Church
Pentecost is a glimpse into what God dreams the world could be. When we say “yes” to the Spirit, we become participants in that divine dream—bringing hope, justice, and peace to a hurting world.
6. Surrender is the Starting Point of Freedom
We receive the Spirit not by earning it, but by letting go—of control, fear, ego—and receiving grace as a gift. In surrender, we find our truest selves.
7. The World Needs a Spirit-Filled Church
In a weary and divided world, the Church is called to be a cooling breeze—a community of love and possibility empowered by the Spirit. But it only happens when we wait on God.
Reflection Questions for the Week:
When was the last time I truly waited on God before making a decision?
What might I need to let go of to be more open to the Spirit’s movement?
How can I embody God’s dream in my relationships, my work, and my community?
Closing Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts. Kindle in us the fire of your love, that we may be the body of Christ in the world, living signs of your hope, your power, and your imagination. Amen.
📝 Take-Home Notes: The Fifth GospelScripture Focus: Acts 1:1–11
Preacher: Rev. Jim
Date: Ascension Sunday
1. Don’t Avoid the Uncomfortable
Rev. Jim admitted he’s often avoided preaching about the Ascension because it feels hard to imagine. But faith sometimes invites us to wrestle with mystery—not to avoid it.
2. The Point Isn’t How Jesus Ascended—It’s Why
Acts 1 shows Jesus’ ascension not just as an end, but a beginning. Jesus leaves so the Holy Spirit can come—and we can be empowered to continue his work.
3. The Book of Acts = The Fifth Gospel
Acts is often called “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit.” It tells how everyday people, led by the Spirit, became Christ’s body in the world. That story is still being written—by us.
4. The Spirit Empowers Us to Be the Church
Jesus promises: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” That power equips us to teach, heal, forgive, love, and unite—just as he did.
5. Stop Staring—Start Acting
When the disciples stared into the sky, angels asked, “Why are you looking up?” It was a reminder: don’t wait around. You are now the presence of Christ on earth. Get to work.
Reflect This Week:
In what ways can I be Christ’s presence in my community—through my words, my actions, and my love?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, fill me with your power so that I may be your witness in this world. Help me to teach, to heal, to love, and to live as the body of Christ. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 67
Key Themes & Takeaways:
Pause and Reflect: Just as Brad had to pause mid-hike, we are invited to stop and reflect, especially during times of transition.
God’s Presence: Like Wesley's words, “Best of all, God is with us.” God's grace remains with us in every season.
Blessing and Mission: Psalm 67 is both a blessing and a call—to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering ourselves for others.
Unity and Forgiveness: Mistakes will happen. Be quick to forgive, slow to blame, and always aim to build one another up.
Praise with Joy: Let worship be full of joy and authenticity. May this church be a place where people encounter God and are renewed.
Live the Vows: Continue your discipleship through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
Support One Another: Speak to God about one another before speaking to others. Encourage your leaders.
Brad’s Prayer for Us: That we would be people of rest, praise, joy, and service—filled with the Spirit and led by grace.
Parting Words:
Do no harm. Do good. Fall in love with God.
Carry this simple wisdom into your life as disciples of Christ.
📝 Take-Home Notes: Profanity in the ChurchScripture Focus: Acts 11:1–18
Preacher: Rev. Jim
📌 Key Themes:
Identity through Food: What we eat often marks who we are—culturally, religiously, and socially. This was especially true in biblical times.
Peter’s Vision: God challenges Peter’s understanding of “clean” and “unclean” through a vision filled with forbidden foods, symbolizing people previously excluded from God’s covenant.
Breaking Barriers: Peter sees the Holy Spirit fall on Cornelius—a Gentile—and realizes God’s love extends beyond boundaries, rules, and traditions.
Modern Application: We still draw lines between “us” and “them”—by race, religion, nationality, politics, gender, and sexuality. But God’s grace doesn’t play favorites.
🙏 Reflection Questions:
Where in your life do you see boundaries that separate “insiders” from “outsiders”?
Have you ever used your beliefs to justify exclusion—intentionally or unintentionally?
How might God be asking you to expand your view of who belongs in His kingdom?
💬 Quotes to Remember:
“What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” — Acts 11:9
“You can safely assume you’ve made God in your own image when it turns out He hates all the same people you do.” — Anne Lamott
“Who are we to hinder God?” — Acts 11:17
✨ A Final Word:
God’s sheet is wide. His grace is vast. His love includes everyone.
Let’s stop shrinking God down to our own image.
Let’s start living into the wideness of His mercy.
Sermon Take-Home Notes“Re-Rigging the Boat: Love in Action After Easter”
John 21:1–19 | Rev. David Hockett | May 11, 2024
1. Faith is more than belief—it’s a call to action.
Jesus doesn’t just ask Peter if he loves Him—He tells him to feed His sheep. Our faith is meant to be lived out in how we care, serve, and love others.
2. Love requires embodiment.
Saying we love Christ is just the start. The world will know we follow Jesus not by our words alone, but by how we live, how we love, and how we serve.
3. Sometimes following Jesus means “re-rigging the boat.”
Casting nets on the other side wasn’t easy for the disciples—it meant reworking everything. Likewise, we’re often called to adapt, risk, and step outside our comfort zones for the sake of the Gospel.
4. The Church isn’t a destination—it’s a mission.
We aren’t called to simply fill seats, but to fill hearts. Church isn’t about buildings; it’s about being Christ’s body in the world—feeding His sheep wherever they are.
5. Everyone matters to God.
Jesus sought out Peter even after denial and failure. That same grace is offered to us—and we’re invited to extend it to others. Everyone, everywhere, matters to God.
Reflection Questions:
Where is Jesus calling me to “re-rig the boat” in my life or ministry?
Who in my life needs to hear or experience Christ’s love this week?
How can I embody the love of Christ beyond the walls of the church?
Take-Home Notes for the Congregation:1. God’s Love Is Relentless and Unconditional
Just like the mother bunny in The Runaway Bunny, God's love follows us wherever we go. Nothing can separate us from it—not fear, failure, distance, or doubt.
2. The Good Shepherd Leads—He Doesn’t Drive
Sheep follow the voice they know. Jesus doesn't push us forward; He goes ahead of us, calling us to follow Him in trust and love.
3. God Comes to Find Us, Not Just Wait for Us
The gospel isn't just about a light on a distant hill—it’s about the God who leaves the fire, steps into the cold night, and brings us home.
4. The Image of the Shepherd Is a Comfort—And a Call
Jesus seeks the lost and brings them home, but He also calls us to do the same. We are invited to follow Him by becoming shepherds—agents of love, compassion, justice, and healing.
5. Our Response Is to Follow and Reflect the Shepherd
To live as Easter people is to go where Jesus goes—into the valleys, into the suffering, into the lost places—bringing the light of God’s love with us.
Reflection Question for the Week:
Who in your life might be longing for the warmth of God’s love? How can you reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd to them this week?
Jesus meets us where we are.
Even when the disciples were hiding in fear, Jesus came to them with compassion, offering peace, not judgment.
Our faith journey requires training.
Like the disciples, we often fall back on old habits in hard times. We build resilience through spiritual practices: Scripture, prayer, communion, acts of mercy, and Christian community.
Fear doesn't disqualify us.
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to "get it all right." He meets us in our fear and sends us out empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Doubt is part of the journey.
Thomas' story shows that questioning and searching are natural parts of growing in faith. Jesus welcomes our honest doubts and calls us deeper into belief.
We are called to go and offer peace.
As Easter people, we are not meant to stay locked in fear. We are sent to be a presence of peace, hope, and love to a hurting world.
Key phrase to hold onto:
"Peace be with you." — Let this be the posture you carry into every encounter.
Easter Is Now:
Easter isn’t just a past event—it’s the beginning of a new and abundant life today. Christ’s resurrection means life, hope, and freedom are already breaking into the world.
Faith Is Encounter:
The earliest Christians didn’t believe simply because of an empty tomb; they believed because they encountered the living Christ. Our faith is built on meeting Jesus personally.
Hope for a Hurting World:
Even when life feels like Good Friday, Easter reminds us that the worst is never the end. If everything is not yet all right, it’s not the end.
Easter Is for Everyone:
In the Eastern Church, resurrection is seen not just as personal victory but communal transformation. Christ’s resurrection lifts up all of humanity.
Living the Resurrection:
Because Christ lives, we are called to live differently—with courage, compassion, hope, and community. Our lives are meant to reflect the reality of Easter every day.
Everything Will Be All Right:
Easter assures us that, through Christ, life and love have the final word. No matter the darkness we face, God's love is making all things new.
Disordered Love: Sin isn’t just bad behavior—it’s often loving the wrong things too much, and the right things too little. Pride begins here.
Pride vs. Humility: Pride makes everything transactional and self-centered. Humility asks, "Who are you?"—not "What can you do for me?"
Jesus’ Example: On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility, not power. He modeled a life of service, not domination.
The Way of the Cross: Jesus invites us to follow him by dying to pride and embracing the humility that sees every person as sacred.
Freedom in Identity: We are “dust”—but sacred dust, made in God's image. Knowing this frees us from chasing status and lets us love well.
Holy Week Question: Do we really believe that humble, sacrificial love is the path to life? Are we willing to follow it?
Scripture Focus: Micah 6:8
"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?"
🔑 Key Ideas:
Confirmation is not an ending, but a beginning of a lifelong journey of faith.
Liminal spaces are moments when heaven and earth meet—Jesus is the ultimate liminal space.
The Church is called to be that liminal space in the world by how we live and love.
🙌 What God Requires of Us:
Do Justice
Justice is what love looks like in public.
It’s about living in a way that prioritizes the well-being of others—especially the vulnerable.
Ask: What’s best for my neighbor?
Love Kindness
Not just niceness, but deep compassion and mercy, like the kindness God shows us.
Reflect God's love through our words, actions, and relationships.
Walk Humbly with God
Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself—it’s thinking of yourself less.
Live in daily dependence on God's grace.
💬 Reflect & Respond:
Where do you see a gap between your Sunday faith and your weekday life?
How might you become a glimpse of heaven for someone else this week?
What does doing justice look like in your school, job, or neighborhood?
🙏 Prayer:
“God, help me to be your hands and feet in the world. Teach me to seek justice, to love with kindness, and to walk each day in humility with You. Amen.”
Sermon Notes – “Who Am I Becoming?”Fourth Sunday in Lent | Rev. David Hockett | Luke 15:11-32
✝️ Key Scripture
Luke 15:11-32 — The Parable of the Prodigal Son
💡 Big Idea
God’s love is freely given—not earned—and always calls us to become more fully who God created us to be. Lent invites us to pause and ask:
“Who am I becoming?”
🧠 Main Points
God loves us because God is good and God is love—not because we are worthy or deserving.
That love doesn’t leave us where we are. It calls us to respond and grow.
Lent’s core question is:
➤ Who am I becoming?
➤ Am I living into my identity as God’s beloved?
Like the two sons in the parable, we can be lost:
By running from God (younger son)
By staying close but growing resentful or self-righteous (older son)
Both sons tried to fill the void with something other than love—but only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.
God meets us where we are—not with shame or judgment, but with grace, forgiveness, and welcome.
🔄 Reflection Questions
What "far country" have I wandered into lately?
Am I living as someone deeply loved by God?
In what ways is God calling me to grow or return?
What do I need to let go of to become my true self in Christ?
🙏 Encouragement for the Week
No matter where you are—near, far, or still on the journey—God is calling you home.
You are loved. You are being formed. You are not alone.
📖 Quote to Remember
“Just because it is the scorpion’s nature to sting does not mean I should abandon my nature to save.”
— Story from Rev. Hockett’s sermon
✨ Take Home Notes – March 3rd Sunday of LentSermon Title: "God Loves Us Because God Is Good"
Scripture: Luke 13:1–9
Rev. David Hockett
🪷 Main Point
God doesn’t love us because we’re good—God loves us because God is good.
📖 Key Reflections
Our image of God deeply shapes how we see ourselves, how we treat others, and how we live in the world.
Believing God is judgmental and conditional in love leads us to be judgmental and conditional in our own love.
Believing God is gracious and patient helps us become more gracious and patient with others.
💬 Jesus’ Challenge
Jesus pushes back against the belief that suffering is a punishment from God or a sign of someone's sin.
He invites us to stop assigning blame and instead reflect on our own hearts and growth.
🌱 The Fig Tree Reminder
The parable of the fig tree shows God’s patience—giving us space and time to grow and bear fruit.
“Let’s give it a little more time” — a beautiful picture of God’s mercy.
💡 What Fruit Looks Like
Bearing fruit isn’t just about doing good deeds—it’s about becoming more loving, more Christ-like in character.
A transformed life reflects a transformed heart.
❤️ Take This With You
God loves you—at your best and at your worst—because that’s who God is.
Don’t rush to judge others based on their circumstances.
Let your view of God move you toward compassion, not condemnation.
🙏 Questions to Reflect On This Week
How has your image of God shaped how you treat others?
Are there people you struggle to see as loved by God? Why?
What kind of “fruit” is God calling you to grow in this season?
Let these truths soak in as we continue our Lenten journey toward Easter. You are deeply loved. So is your neighbor. Let’s live like we believe it.
📖 Sermon Take-Home Notes | The Fox and the Hen
🗣 Rev. Jim Humphries
Key Scripture: Luke 13:31-35"Go tell that fox for me... How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"
1️⃣ Fear Not – Courage in ChristThe phrase “Fear not” may not be in the Bible 365 times, but God’s command to live courageously is a common theme.
God does not want us to live in constant fear or anxiety, but rather in faith and trust.
💡 Reflection: What fears hold you back from fully trusting in God?
2️⃣ The Fox vs. The HenHerod represents the fox—cunning, selfish, and destructive.
Jesus chooses to be the hen—offering protection, sacrifice, and love to His people.
Instead of responding to threats with power and aggression, Jesus meets them with grace and courage.
💡 Reflection: How does Jesus’ example challenge the way you handle opposition?
3️⃣ Courageous Love in ActionDorothy Counts’ Story (1957) – Despite hostility, she held her head high, refused to return hate for hate, and paved the way for justice.
Like Jesus, she faced evil without fear and responded with steadfast courage.
💡 Reflection: Where is God calling you to show courageous love in your life?
4️⃣ The Power of ReconciliationYears later, a former classmate who stood silent during the harassment sought forgiveness from Dorothy Counts.
Their story reminds us that it’s never too late to make things right.
💡 Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or seek reconciliation with?
Final Takeaway: Be Courageous in Christ✔ Fear may be real, but it does not have to control you.
✔ Stand firm in love and faith even when facing “foxes” in your life.
✔ Jesus’ way is not the way of power, but of sacrifice. We are called to follow that same path.
🙏 Prayer:
"Lord, give me the courage to follow Jesus’ example of love, even in the face of fear. Help me trust You as my protector, my hen, and to be a light to others. Amen."
📝 Challenge This Week:
🔹 Identify one area of your life where fear holds you back—pray for courage to trust God.
🔹 Show kindness and forgiveness to someone, just as Jesus offers to us.
Sermon Notes: Trusting God in the WildernessRev. David Hockett | Davidson UMC
Key Scripture:
- Luke 4:1-13 – Jesus' temptation in the wilderness
Main Themes:
Jesus Was Tempted, Like Us
- Jesus faced the temptation to seek power, control, and efficiency over love and trust in God.
- His humanity makes His struggles relatable, yet He chose a different way—showing us a better way to live.
The Purpose of Lent
- A time to prepare our hearts for Easter.
- A season of letting go—of control, power, self-sufficiency—and learning to trust in God.
- A chance to reflect on our own temptations and realign our hearts with God's love.
The Nature of Temptation
- Temptation is often about disordered love—loving the wrong things or the right things for the wrong reasons.
- The temptation to control others can feel easier than loving them.
The Church’s Struggle with Power & Control
- Even in ministry, we often seek efficiency and results instead of trust and spiritual transformation.
- True faithfulness comes not from working harder but from drawing closer to Jesus.
What We Truly Need
- Not more programs, strategies, or skills—but more time with Jesus.
- Like Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42), we are called to be still and listen.
- The most important practices:
- Prayer & Worship
- Confession & Forgiveness
- Silence & Listening
The Central Question: Do We Trust God?
- Jesus rejected power and control because He trusted God completely.
- We are called to move beyond curiosity about Jesus to trusting in His way of love.
The Journey Out of the Wilderness
- True faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting God in uncertainty.
- We remember:
- Who we are – God’s beloved
- To whom we belong – Christ
- Who holds our future – God alone
Reflection Questions:
- Where in my life am I tempted to seek power or control instead of trusting God?
- How can I use this season of Lent to deepen my relationship with Christ?
- Am I making space to listen to God, or am I relying on my own strength?
Prayer for the Week:
"God, help me to trust You more. In moments of uncertainty, remind me that You hold my future. Teach me to love as You love and to follow Jesus' path, even when it is difficult. Amen."
Next Steps:
- Spend time in prayer and silence this week.
- Reflect on where you may be resisting trust in God.
- Consider ways to practice letting go and surrendering to God's love.
📖 Lenten Challenge: Each day this week, take 5 minutes of silence to simply be with God. No requests, no distractions—just listen.
Sermon NotesSeries: Questions Jesus Asked
Title: “What Are You Looking For?”
Scripture: John 1:35-39
Preacher: Rev. David Hockett
Main Question:🔎 What are you looking for? – Jesus asks this question to His first disciples and to us today. It’s a question of desire, purpose, and longing.
Key Themes:1. Our Restless Hearts Need God Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”* * Beneath our searching, striving, and dissatisfaction is a deep need for God.
2. Do We Seek Jesus or Just What He Can Give?* We often bring our own agendas to Jesus—seeking comfort, security, or answers. * True discipleship is not about controlling our relationship with God, but trusting and following Him.
3. The First Disciples' Response: “Where Are You Staying?”* Instead of asking big theological questions, they simply want to be with Jesus. * This challenges us: Are we seeking Jesus Himself, or just what He can do for us?
4. Jesus’ Invitation: “Come and See” We don’t need to have all the answers before following Jesus. * Faith comes first—understanding follows (faith seeking understanding*). * The journey of discipleship is about experiencing Jesus firsthand.
5. From Seeking to Sharing Once we come and see, we are called to go and tell*. * The Church is a witness to God’s presence—will others see Jesus among us?
Reflection Questions: If Jesus asked you today, “What are you looking for?”*, how would you answer? * Are you following Jesus for who He is or for what He can give? * How can you help others see Jesus through your life and in our church?
Application: Living Out the Message✅ Draw near to Jesus – Spend time in prayer and scripture, not just seeking answers but deepening your relationship with Christ.
✅ Trust before understanding – Step out in faith, even when you don’t see the full picture.
✅ Be a witness – Live in a way that reflects Jesus, so others may come and see Him through you.
📖 This week, read John 1:35-51 and reflect on how Jesus invites us to follow Him.
🙌 May our lives and our church be a place where people can say, “Yes, Jesus stays here.”
Thanks be to God. Amen.
📖 Sermon Take-Home Notes🔹 Questions Jesus Asked: What Do You Live For?
Rev. David Hockett | Davidson UMC
Key Scripture: Mark 8:36"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
Main Takeaways:🔹 What Do You Live For?
Jesus’ question challenges us to examine our priorities and what truly shapes our lives.
Are we living for temporary success, comfort, or control? Or for the life God intends for us?
🔹 The Cross Defines Our Purpose
Taking up the cross isn’t about hardship—it’s about embracing Christ’s way of love, grace, and self-giving.
True life is found not in serving ourselves but in surrendering to God’s purpose.
🔹 Letting Go to Receive More
What are we holding onto that keeps us from fully following Jesus?
To experience the life God desires for us, we must let go of what is false and embrace what is true.
🔹 A Life That Matters Requires Action
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s about transformation.
Following Jesus means aligning our actions with His call:
✅ Worship weekly
✅ Pray daily
✅ Read and experience Scripture
✅ Connect with others in faith
✅ Serve in the church and community
✅ Give generously and joyfully
📖 Sermon Take-Home Notes🔹 Questions Jesus Asked: What Do You Live For?
Rev. David Hockett | Davidson UMC
Key Scripture: Mark 8:36"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"
Main Takeaways:🔹 What Do You Live For?
Jesus’ question challenges us to examine our priorities and what truly shapes our lives.
Are we living for temporary success, comfort, or control? Or for the life God intends for us?
🔹 The Cross Defines Our Purpose
Taking up the cross isn’t about hardship—it’s about embracing Christ’s way of love, grace, and self-giving.
True life is found not in serving ourselves but in surrendering to God’s purpose.
🔹 Letting Go to Receive More
What are we holding onto that keeps us from fully following Jesus?
To experience the life God desires for us, we must let go of what is false and embrace what is true.
🔹 A Life That Matters Requires Action
Faith isn’t just belief—it’s about transformation.
Following Jesus means aligning our actions with His call:
✅ Worship weekly
✅ Pray daily
✅ Read and experience Scripture
✅ Connect with others in faith
✅ Serve in the church and community
✅ Give generously and joyfully
📖 Sermon Take-Home Notes
Series: Questions Jesus Asked
Sermon: “Why Are You Anxious?”
Preacher: Rev. David Hockett
Scripture: Luke 12:22-31
Main Idea:Jesus asks, “Why are you anxious?” reminding us that while worry is real, God’s love and provision are greater. True peace comes when we shift our focus from fear to faith, trusting in God’s presence and care.
Key Points:🔹 The World Thrives on Anxiety
Marketers, politicians, and businesses often fuel our fears to drive decisions.
We live in a culture that equates success with proving our worth.
Anxiety can become a cycle that robs us of life.
🔹 Jesus’ Invitation: Look at the Birds & Flowers
They do not worry, yet God provides for them.
Worrying cannot add to our lives but can take away from it.
God’s care for creation is a reminder of His care for us.
🔹 Faith Over Fear
Jesus doesn’t dismiss our worries but redirects our focus.
Anxiety becomes harmful when it takes control and distracts us from God.
Instead of seeking security in things, we are called to seek God’s kingdom first.
Practical Steps to Overcome Anxiety✅ Breathe – Take a deep breath, pray, and invite the Holy Spirit in.
✅ Give Thanks – Start each day with gratitude, remembering God’s blessings.
✅ Serve Others – Shift focus from yourself to those in need.
Reflection Questions:1️⃣ What worries have been weighing on you lately?
2️⃣ How can you shift your focus from fear to faith this week?
3️⃣ What are some practical ways to seek God’s kingdom first in your daily life?
Final Encouragement:Jesus invites us to trust God and be free from anxiety. When we release our worries, we make room for the peace that surpasses all understanding. God is more than enough.
🙏 “You are God’s beloved. Place your trust in God and experience God’s peace.”
SERMON TAKE-HOME NOTES
"Why Are You Afraid?" – Rev. David Hockett
Date: February 2, 2025
Key Scripture:Matthew 8:23-27 – Jesus calms the storm and asks His disciples, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”
Main Points:1. Fear is Powerful but Not in Control
Fear can shape our decisions, impact our health, and limit our ability to trust.
Society often fuels our fears—whether through politics, news, or personal anxieties.
Many of the things we fear never actually happen.
- Jesus Asks, Not Accuses
Instead of scolding, Jesus’ question invites reflection: Why are you afraid?
Like a loving parent comforting a child, Jesus asks us to name our fears.
Naming our fears is the first step toward moving through them.
- Storms Are Inevitable, But We Are Not Alone
The disciples panicked, but Jesus was with them the entire time.
The same God who calmed the sea walks with us through every storm.
Faith doesn’t remove life’s challenges—it gives us peace amid them.
- Moving from Fear to Faith
Scripture tells us “Do not be afraid” at least 140 times.
Trusting in Christ means we don’t have to be ruled by fear.
Jesus’ presence in our lives helps us navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Reflection Questions:-) What fears are currently shaping your thoughts and decisions?
-) How might you hear Jesus' question—Why are you afraid?—with curiosity instead of guilt?
-) Where in your life do you need to trust that Jesus is in the boat with you?
Application This Week:-) Identify Your Fears – Write them down and pray about them.
-) Reframe Your Perspective – Ask “What happened to me?” instead of “What’s wrong with me?”
-) Lean Into Faith – Read a scripture passage each day that reminds you of God’s presence.
-) Encourage Someone Else – Be a reminder of God’s peace to someone facing their own storm.
Take Heart:
Jesus is not distant in our struggles—He is right there with us. His love is greater than fear. Trust Him, and find peace in the storm.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust You more than my fears. When the storms of life arise, remind me that You are always with me. Strengthen my faith and guide me toward peace. Amen.
Take-Home Notes: “Who Do You Say That I Am?”Key Scripture:
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” — Luke 9:20
Main Points:
Jesus' Transformative Questions:
Jesus asked over 300 questions during His ministry, often leaving them open-ended to spark reflection and transformation.
Today’s focus: “Who do you say that I am?”
The question isn’t just about correct knowledge—it’s about the impact your answer has on how you live your life.
Three Types of Questions Jesus Asked (from Magrey deVega):
Factual Questions: Straightforward answers (Who, What, When, Where, etc.).
Interpretive Questions: Encouraging deeper thought and opinions.
Evaluative Questions: Calling us to examine the impact of the answer on our hearts, minds, and lives.
Peter’s Answer:
Peter boldly declared, “You are the Christ of God.”
While the answer was factually correct, Jesus urged Peter (and us) to let the truth change how we live.
Living the Answer:
Believing Jesus is the Christ means reorienting our lives to reflect His kingdom values:
Selflessness: Deny yourself and take up your cross daily.
Service: Extend mercy and love to others, just as God has shown mercy to you.
Sacrifice: Be willing to give up personal gain for the sake of others and the kingdom.
Faith in Action:
Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and even our enemies, live generously, and seek justice.
The true marker of discipleship is not being “right” but being known by our love.
Reflection Questions:
Who do you say Jesus is in your life today?
How does your answer shape your actions, priorities, and relationships?
What is one way you can reflect Christ’s love, generosity, or justice this week?
Call to Action:
Join us in the Questions Jesus Asked study on Wednesdays at 5:45 PM in the Seymour Building.
Take time this week to meditate on Luke 9:20 and ask yourself, “What would Jesus have me do?”
Take Home Notes: Indispensable: Remaking the Body of Christ1. Everyone Matters in Christ’s Body
- Each member of the body of Christ is indispensable, regardless of their role or visibility.
- The less obvious or less "honored" parts are clothed with greater respect in God’s eyes.
2. Unity Through Interdependence
- Just as a physical body relies on all its parts, we rely on each other in the body of Christ.
- When one member suffers, we all suffer; when one rejoices, we all rejoice.
3. Your Gifts Are for Building the Kingdom
- The Holy Spirit has given each of us unique gifts to strengthen the body and glorify God.
- Without your contributions, the church isn’t at its full strength.
4. Remaking the Narrative
- Like Paul reimagined the story of the body, we are called to challenge societal norms that devalue others.
- Christ’s body is not hierarchical but rooted in love, equity, and interconnection.
5. You Are Beloved and Indispensable
- Your presence, talents, and service matter deeply to Christ and the community.
- Whether seen or unseen, celebrated or quiet, you are vital to the church’s mission.
Reflection Questions:
- How does knowing you are indispensable to Christ and His body change your perspective on your role in the church?
- What unique gifts can you offer to strengthen the body of Christ?
- How can you honor and uplift others in the body, especially those who may feel overlooked?
Memory Verse:
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:2
Take-Home Notes: "Beloved: Living into Our True Identity"Our Core Identity
- At the heart of who we are lies a simple truth: We are God’s beloved.
- This identity is not based on what we do, what we have, or how others define us. It’s given by God through grace.
Baptism as a Reminder
- Baptism symbolizes being "dipped into" God’s love and truth, washing away all false identities.
- Just as Jesus was named God’s beloved at His baptism, we too are claimed as God’s own children.
The Power of Belonging
- Knowing we are God’s beloved gives us freedom—not to prove our worth but to live in love, grace, and purpose.
- This truth shapes how we see ourselves, treat others, and live out our faith.
The Call to Live the Truth
- Each day, we are called to say no to false stories and yes to God’s story about who we are.
- Living as God’s beloved means reflecting His love in our words and actions, especially toward those who feel unseen or unloved.
A Vision for the Church
- DUMC’s mission is to live and share this truth: You are God’s beloved.
- Imagine the impact if we carried this message into our homes, communities, and world in 2025.
Reflection Questions:
- How do you currently define yourself?
- What would it look like to embrace your identity as God’s beloved?
- How can you share this truth with someone this week?
Key Scripture:
"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." – Matthew 3:17
Challenge for the Week:
Find a quiet moment each day to remind yourself: I am God’s beloved. Let that truth guide how you live, love, and interact with others.
God's Love Knows No Boundaries
The story of the Magi demonstrates that Jesus came for all people, regardless of their background, beliefs, or status.
Avoid Building Barriers
Like the Magi, we are reminded not to exclude others from God's love based on their differences but to embrace diversity in our communities and faith.
Reflect God's Inclusivity
Ask yourself: How can I better reflect God's all-encompassing love in my daily interactions with others?
Remember Jesus' Words
Jesus said, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.” This invites us to consider how we can welcome and honor those outside our usual circles.
Live with Openness
Be inspired by the Magi to seek Christ wherever He may be found and to welcome others on their journey of faith.
Sermon Notes – "In Our Father’s House: Finding Christ and Growing in Faith"
Rev. Dr. Brad Hinton
Date: 12-29-2024
Scripture Reference:
Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus in the Temple at 12 Years Old
Key Points to Reflect On:
The Christmas Season Transition
The Christmas season begins with the celebration of Christ's birth.
As we move from preparation to celebration, we remember how Christ changed the world.
The 12 days of Christmas invite us to celebrate Jesus' life and growth.
Jesus’ Growing Up
In today’s scripture, Jesus is no longer a newborn; He is a 12-year-old boy.
Jesus goes to the festival of Passover with His parents, but stays behind in the temple without informing them.
Mary and Joseph’s frantic search for Jesus mirrors the anxiety we may feel when we lose something or someone dear to us.
The Parallels to “Home Alone”
Just as in Home Alone, where a child is accidentally left behind, Mary and Joseph face a similar panic when they can’t find Jesus.
The emotional weight of losing a child is felt in both stories, highlighting the bond between parents and children.
Jesus’ Response to His Parents’ Worry
When Mary and Joseph find Jesus after three days, He is calm and explains: “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”
Jesus is focused on His mission and relationship with God, even at a young age.
This moment invites us to reflect on our relationship with God and where we “find” God in our own lives.
Living Out Our Faith in the Father’s House
Jesus teaches us that being in God’s presence (the Father’s house) is where we grow, ask questions, and encounter the divine.
At Davidson UMC, we respond to our faith through actions like volunteering, supporting community efforts, and caring for one another.
Reflection Question: How are you actively seeking God in your life? How are you growing deeper in faith?
The Ongoing Work of God in Our Lives
As we close out 2024, we are called to reflect on how we’ve grown in faith and where God is still working in us.
Sanctification is the ongoing process of growing closer to God and becoming more like Christ.
Reflection Question: Are you further along in your faith this year than last? What steps can you take in the coming year to deepen your faith?
Action Steps:
Reflect on where you encounter God in your life—whether it’s through worship, service, or relationships.
Find ways to live out your faith in tangible ways at Davidson UMC or in your community.
Commit to growing deeper in your relationship with God, asking questions, and seeking understanding.
Prayer for the Week:
God, thank You for the gift of Christ, who calls us to grow in faith and to seek Your presence in our lives. Help us to find You in all that we do and to continue to grow closer to You. Guide us in our service to others and help us reflect Christ in all we say and do. In Jesus' name, Amen.
We invite you to continue this journey with us at Davidson UMC.
Stay connected, grow in faith, and be a light to the world.
The Deeper Meaning of Christmas Joy: Mary’s joy wasn’t rooted in comfort or circumstances but in being part of God’s transformative story for the world. Christmas invites us to this same joy—beyond happiness and festivity.
The Magnificat’s Call to Action: Mary’s song proclaims justice, hope, and liberation. It reminds us that God works through the lowly and powerless, turning the world’s values upside down.
Becoming Signs of Christ: We are not the solution or savior but are called to point to Jesus through lives that uplift the lowly, pursue justice, and offer hope to the weary.
The Work of Christmas Begins: After the lights and celebrations, our faithful response is to seek the lost, heal the broken, feed the hungry, and make peace in our communities.
A Lasting Commitment: True joy comes from allowing Christ to dwell within us daily, embodying His love and presence long after the Christmas season fades.
Take-Home Notes: Don’t Miss ChristmasSlow Down and Create Space
Advent invites us to pause and prepare our hearts for Christ.
Take intentional moments to step away from the busyness and reflect on God’s presence in your life.
Hear John’s Call to “Turn Around”
Repentance means making a 180-degree turn toward God.
Identify distractions or habits that pull you away from experiencing God’s love fully.
Embrace God’s Whisper
Christmas comes quietly, like a whisper of love.
Look for God’s presence in simple, unexpected moments this season.
Be Open to Transformation
God enters both the beauty and the messiness of our lives to make us whole.
Ask: What can I turn away from or towards to experience God’s love anew?
Don’t Let the Season Slip By
Enjoy the traditions—decorating, baking, and gift-giving—but remember, they’re incidental to the deeper meaning of Christmas.
Focus on God’s gift of life and love through Jesus.
Reflection Questions:
How can I create space in my life this week to focus on God?
What might I need to turn away from or toward to prepare my heart for Christ?
Where have I seen God whispering His love to me recently?
Prayer for the Week:
Lord, help me slow down and prepare my heart for You this Advent. Let me turn away from distractions and turn toward Your love. Whisper Your presence into my life, and may I not miss the gift of Christmas. Amen.
Sermon Take-Home NotesMain Scripture Focus: Luke 21:25-36
Key Points:
Advent: A Season of Preparation and Waiting
Similar to Lent, Advent prepares our hearts for Jesus' coming.
It’s a time to focus on God’s presence, not perfection.
The Reality of the First Christmas
Far from perfect: Mary and Joseph were exhausted, frightened, and living in less-than-ideal conditions.
Jesus entered the world in vulnerability, identifying with the broken and the hurting.
The Illusion of the “Perfect Christmas”
Advertisements promise perfection through consumption, but true joy isn't found in decorations or gifts.
Christmas speaks to our real, imperfect lives, offering hope and healing.
God Meets Us in the Mess
God comes into our chaos to disrupt, redeem, and restore.
Christmas is about God showing up in our brokenness, bringing love and renewal.
Advent as a Call to Action
Align your life with God's mission of justice, peace, and love.
Be a bearer of light, hope, and generosity in a hurting world.
Reflection Questions:
What imperfections in your life do you need to invite God into this season?
How can you embody God’s hope and love for others during Advent?
What steps can you take to focus on Christ’s coming rather than the pressures of holiday perfection?
Action Steps for the Week:
Dedicate time for prayer and reflection each day.
Perform an act of generosity or kindness for someone in need.
Commit to attending worship and engaging in Advent traditions.
Remember: The perfect Christmas comes not through striving for perfection but by welcoming God’s perfect love into our imperfect lives.
Sermon Notes: Christ the King SundayMain Scripture: John 18:33-38
The Story of the King and the Potter
A king fell in love with a potter, but instead of using power or deception, he renounced his throne to live as one of her people, seeking an honest and genuine relationship.
This story reflects Jesus’ choice to serve and dwell among us rather than ruling from a distance.
Jesus’ Kingdom vs. Earthly Kingdoms
Pilate’s understanding of a kingdom: power, control, wealth, and dominance.
Jesus’ kingdom: love, service, mercy, peace, and truth.
Jesus’ declaration: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
Jesus, the Servant King
Jesus emptied Himself, choosing humility and service (Philippians 2:6-7).
His command to His followers: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
Hope in Pilate’s Story
Some traditions suggest Pilate may have converted to Christianity, offering hope that even those tied to systems of power can be transformed by love.
This transformation highlights the power of God’s truth to change hearts and kingdoms.
A Call to Action
Followers of Christ are called to embody His kingdom values in a world often driven by power and fear.
Be voices of hope, truth, and love in our communities.
Sermon Notes: Rooted in Christ – Bearing Fruit That Lasts
Rev. David Hockett
Key ScriptureJohn 15:5 – "I am the vine, you are the branches. When you are joined with me and I with you, the relationship intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant."
Main MessageLike an acorn putting down roots to grow into a mighty tree, our lives must be deeply rooted in Christ. Through abiding in Him, we bear fruit that restores hope and transforms lives.
How We Abide in ChristWorship
Gather to connect with God and one another.
Spiritual Formation
Grow through education, prayer, and small groups.
Fellowship
Share life together and support one another.
Service
Engage in acts of kindness and make a tangible impact in the community.
Kingdom Fruit in ActionProviding hope through ministries like Room in the Inn and global missions (e.g., Guatemala and Kenya).
Supporting children, families, and neighbors through partnerships with local organizations.
Inspiring worship through music and community events like the Live Nativity.
Reflection QuestionsHow is God calling me to abide more deeply in Christ?
What gifts or talents can I offer to bear “kingdom fruit”?
How can I help restore hope in someone’s life this week?
Next StepsPray about how you can serve and give.
Commit your time, talents, and resources to support God’s work through DUMC.
Trust in God’s power to work through you to change lives.
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust in God, and God will act." – Psalm 37:5
Let’s grow together and bear fruit that lasts!
Sermon Notes: All In: A Life of Faithful Giving and True Discipleship1. The Widow’s Offering: A Model of Faithful Generosity
- Scripture Reference: Mark 12:41-44
- Key Insight: Jesus highlights the widow who, despite her poverty, gives everything she has—two small coins—as an act of worship and trust in God.
- Takeaway: The size of our gift matters less than the heart behind it. True discipleship means giving out of love, not for recognition or reward.
2. Discipleship as a Wholehearted Commitment
- Challenge of Faith: Are we "all in" for God, like the widow, or is our faith just one commitment among many?
- Reflection Question: Is my life centered on Christ, or divided by competing commitments and securities?
3. Stewardship Beyond Finances
- Broad View of Stewardship: It’s not just about money. Stewardship includes how we use our time, presence, and resources to reflect God’s love and mercy.
- Application: Consider how all aspects of life can express faithfulness to God’s mission.
4. Living in a "Purple" Church
- Unity in Diversity: In a diverse congregation, we are called to humility, understanding, and shared purpose.
- Our Mission Stands Firm: Regardless of external influences, our mission is clear: to embody Christ’s love, mercy, and justice.
5. Our Baptismal Vows
- Reaffirming Commitments: As baptized Christians, we have committed to resisting evil, embracing justice, and walking humbly with God.
- Living These Vows: Following Christ’s example means caring for the vulnerable, sharing generously, and loving our neighbors.
6. The Path of Abundant Life
- Abundant Life in Christ: Our stewardship theme this year, “Abundant Life,” invites us to trust God fully and live free from worry, knowing that God provides.
- Going "All In": Like the widow, may we give our whole hearts and lives to God, embracing true discipleship and trusting in His goodness.
Reflection for the Week:
How can I embody the widow’s faith and trust in my own life? In what ways am I called to “go all in” for God?
Take Home Thought:
Our mission remains constant, regardless of the changing world: to be the hands and feet of Christ, seeking justice, showing mercy, and walking humbly with God.
Sermon Notes: Living as Saints - A Glimpse of Heaven on Earth
Scripture Reference: Revelation 7:9-17
Key Themes:
The Meaning of All Saints' Day
A day to honor the "saints"—those who have lived lives of faith, love, and service in Christ.
Saints are not only historical figures like St. Paul or St. Teresa but also all who follow Jesus.
Broad Definition of Saints
In the New Testament, “saints” refers to all believers who strive to follow Christ’s way of righteousness and love.
Saints include friends, family members, and church members who have passed but continue to impact our lives.
Unity in Worship
When we gather for worship, we are united with all saints, past and present, in a shared offering of praise to God.
Worship brings us closer to God and each other, strengthening the "communion of saints."
A Vision of Heaven
Revelation gives us an image of heaven as a diverse and inclusive gathering of people from every background, united in worship.
Saints are called to offer the world an alternative to division and hostility—a glimpse of heaven on earth through love and unity.
The Call to Live Differently
As saints, we are called to be a “living sign” of God’s hope and vision for the world, embodying Christ’s love for all.
By focusing our worship and devotion on God, we shape our lives to reflect justice, mercy, and inclusivity.
Reflection Questions:
Who are the saints in your life—those who have influenced you and helped you grow in faith?
How can you live in a way that reflects God’s love and hope for the world?
In what ways can worship help align your life with God’s vision of unity and compassion?
Practice This Week:
Remember and Give Thanks: Take time to remember loved ones who have passed and reflect on the ways their lives continue to inspire you.
Acts of Kindness: Emulate the saints by engaging in small, intentional acts of love and kindness toward others.
Reflect in Prayer: Each day, ask God to help you live as a “glimpse of heaven on earth” by embracing unity, love, and forgiveness in your interactions.
Closing Thought: As saints, we are invited to give our best to God, living lives of faith and love that offer the world hope and beauty. Today, let us be encouraged by the “great cloud of witnesses” who cheer us on to be faithful and to do “something beautiful for God.”
Sermon Notes: "Re-Formation"
Key Themes:
Role of Prophets: Prophets, like Martin Luther, often bring uncomfortable messages that challenge the status quo and call for change.
Spiritual Inertia: Like physical objects, our faith can fall into inertia, becoming "lukewarm" and resistant to growth or change.
Reformation and Self-Examination: Reformation Sunday is a time to assess our faith lives and ask if we’re growing or simply comfortable.
Reflection Questions:
Am I spiritually the same as I was 5, 10, or 20 years ago? Have I grown in my prayer life, service, or understanding of Scripture?
Are there parts of my faith that need "re-formation" or a new commitment to Jesus?
How might I invite small changes into my routine to spark growth? (Examples: joining a new group, serving, or meeting new people within the church.)
Takeaway Actions:
Seek Community: Join a Sunday school class or small group to challenge and deepen your faith.
Serve Others: Find a ministry within the church or community where you can actively serve.
Break Comfort Zones: Start small by sitting somewhere new in worship or speaking to someone you haven’t met.
Scripture Highlight:
"Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in…" (Revelation 3:20)
Closing Thought:
Jesus invites us to a vibrant, active faith. How will we respond to his knock today?
Sermon Take-Home NotesTitle: The Cost of Freedom: Letting Go to Follow Christ
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 (The Rich Young Ruler)
Wealth and Possessions Can Hinder Our Faith
Like the rich young ruler, we often hold onto things (wealth, status, comfort) that prevent us from fully embracing the life Jesus offers.
Jesus invites us to let go of what binds us so we can be free to follow Him.
True Discipleship Requires Total Commitment
Following Christ isn't something we do in moderation or on our terms. It's a call to reorder our lives and put Jesus first in everything.
Partial faith or selective obedience leaves us unfulfilled, as real freedom comes from fully trusting in God.
God Empowers What Seems Impossible
Jesus reminds us that what seems too difficult for us to give up or do is possible with God’s help.
We are called to take small steps of faith, trusting that God will guide and strengthen us along the way.
Reflection: What is Jesus inviting me to let go of in order to follow Him more closely? How can I take one small step toward deeper faith this week?
Action Step: Reflect on the areas of life where possessions, status, or comfort are holding you back, and ask God for the courage to take a step toward greater freedom in Him.
Sermon Title: Expanding the Circle of Compassion
Scripture Reference: Mark 10:13-16
I. Introduction:Reflect on Jesus welcoming women and children in Mark 10:13-16.
Acknowledge how societal norms often exclude the vulnerable.
Connect the scripture to real-life experiences of marginalized groups.
II. Point 1: Compassion in ActionDavidson UMC’s response to the devastation in Western NC is an example of living out Christ’s love.
Mention financial donations, emergency relief teams, and ongoing efforts to help.
Key Takeaway: True compassion is not a one-time act, but a commitment to walking alongside others in their recovery and healing.
III. Point 2: Jesus’ Radical InclusionIn the Gospel, the disciples attempt to send away women and children based on social norms.
Jesus rejects this and welcomes those on the margins.
Key Takeaway: Jesus’ ministry is not about maintaining order, but about expanding the circle of love and inclusion for all.
IV. Point 3: A Call to Transform Our CommunitiesReflect on how modern-day disasters, like Hurricane Helene, disproportionately affect the most vulnerable—those on the margins.
We are called to remember these moments and work toward a world where fewer people are left vulnerable.
Key Takeaway: Following Jesus means questioning who is excluded in our communities and expanding our circle to include them.
V. Conclusion:As disciples, we are called to continually expand our circle, making room for the vulnerable, marginalized, and overlooked.
Just as Jesus included women and children, we must challenge our own ideas of order and inclusion.
Call to Action: Let’s reflect on how we can create a world where everyone is invited to the center, where no one is left behind.
Closing Prayer:
Ask God for the wisdom and courage to expand our circles of compassion, and to follow Jesus’ example in including all people.
Sermon Notes: Little ChristsPreacher: Rev. Jim Humphries
Key Theme:
The idea of becoming "Little Christs" originates from Martin Luther and was reinforced by C.S. Lewis. The church's mission is to make people "Little Christs," living out their faith in the world.
Reflections on the Wesleys:
John and Charles Wesley exemplified this Christ-like living by:
Feeding the poor
Visiting the imprisoned
Ministering to the sick and outcasts
Advocating for justice (e.g., John Wesley’s fight against slavery and support of women preachers)
Their lives of action and faith helped the Methodist movement grow, embodying the call to be "Little Christs."
Application for Today:
Challenge from the book "Upward": The last chapter emphasizes that our faith should lead to action, not just intellectual understanding. We are called to live out what we've learned.
Election Context: As the election approaches, consider how we can reflect Christ’s love, using John Wesley’s advice:
Vote with integrity.
Avoid speaking ill of those you oppose.
Maintain respect and love for those who vote differently.
Scripture Reference:
2 Corinthians: When we are in Christ, we are a new creation. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation, not division, bridging gaps in a divided world.
Call to Action:
Find ways to be "Little Christs" in your everyday life, especially in divisive times, working for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
Sermon Title: Witnesses of Christ: Walking the Wesleyan WaySubtitle: Embracing Wisdom, Wonder, and Service for the WorldIntroductionKey Scripture: Acts 1:8 – "You will be my witnesses..."
Thesis: As United Methodists, we are called to embody Christ’s love in the world, through wisdom, wonder, and outward-focused service.
Series Context: Third part of a series on Wesleyan discipleship, exploring Paul Chilcote and Steve Harper’s Upward.
I. The Upward Way of Wesleyan DiscipleshipReview of Series:
The Way of Wisdom: Embodying Jesus' compassion, kindness, and love.
The Way of Wonder: Recognizing God’s love creates a more wonder-filled world.
Today’s Focus: The Way of Christ in and for the world—our outward mission as witnesses.
II. Called to Be WitnessesJesus' Commission (Acts 1:8):
To be witnesses in Jerusalem (our immediate community), Judea and Samaria (broader regions), and to the ends of the earth.
Witnesses of Christ’s love, not just in words, but in actions.
Wesleyan Perspective:
Methodism is outward-focused—caring for others, not inwardly centered on the church institution.
The Church's mission: healing and serving the world, partnering with God’s purposes.
III. Wesleyan DNA: Service to the WorldJohn Wesley’s Vision:
Methodism was raised to fill the world with God’s love, not for securing personal salvation or church growth.
The early Methodist movement emphasized serving the poor, healing the sick, educating the unlearned, and bringing Christ’s presence to everyday life.
The Church’s Purpose:
To demonstrate God’s love through acts of justice, mercy, and peace.
Focused outward, not just on internal worship or community gatherings.
IV. The Mission of the ChurchFollowing Jesus' Example:
Jesus' mission (Luke 4:18-19): Bringing good news to the poor, releasing the captives, and healing the oppressed.
Our life as a church must align with this mission—worship and study are the starting point, not the end goal.
Self-Examination:
Are we, as Davidson UMC, bringing good news, freedom, and healing to those in need? If not, we must reevaluate our actions.
V. Authentic DiscipleshipJohn Wesley’s Challenge:
Discipleship isn’t about numbers; it’s about helping people love God and neighbor more deeply.
Let love, kindness, and compassion define our actions, both within the church and beyond.
Practical Service:
Embody the image of a church community serving with a "towel and basin" like Jesus, caring for others with humility.
VI. Covenant Prayer: Commitment to the MissionPrayer Reflection: Wesley’s Covenant Prayer is a commitment to being used by God for His purposes—whether in comfort or sacrifice.
Invitation: Pray for the strength and willingness to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
ConclusionCall to Action: We are called not to focus inwardly, but to serve as Christ’s witnesses in all areas of life.
Key Question: How will we, as a church, live out the mission to be Christ in and for the world?
Closing Prayer:Wesley’s Covenant Prayer.
Sermon Notes: Living in Awe – Rediscovering God's Wisdom and WonderIntroduction:
Series based on Upward by Paul Chilcote & Steve Harper.
Recap of last week’s focus on wisdom.
Today’s focus: The "upward movement" of wonder.
I. Worldly Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom
Worldly wisdom: Focused on self—ego, pride, acquisition.
Leads to emptiness despite promises of security and success.
God’s wisdom: Rooted in loving-kindness, compassion, humility.
Methodist Christians are called to live by Jesus’ example (compassion, patience, forgiveness).
II. Rediscovering the Power of Wonder
Personal story about Rev. Hockett’s granddaughter, Eloise.
Wonder through a child's eyes: Seeing the world afresh, with awe.
God’s creation, relationships, art, and music are all sources of wonder.
Charles Wesley’s hymn: "Lost in wonder, love, and praise."
Reminder: When was the last time we were “lost in wonder”?
III. Living in Love and Freedom
God’s love is unconditional: No need to prove ourselves.
Freedom in Christ: Free from fear, guilt, and the pressure to measure up.
Experiencing God’s love brings healing, wholeness, and restoration.
Life "to the full" = Resting in God's love, being free to live in the present.
IV. Final Reflection and Call to Action
Encouragement to silence worldly noise and distractions (media, partisanship).
People are not problems to be solved: They are children of God to be loved.
God’s love is for everyone, including those we struggle to love.
Living by God’s wisdom means embracing the wonder and freedom of being loved.
Closing Thought:
God’s love is wonderful, and life lived in His wisdom is full of awe, healing, and purpose.
I. Introduction: The Importance of Wisdom
Definition and value of wisdom in shaping lives and communities.
Questioning by whose wisdom we order our lives.
Relevance for the church and followers of Jesus.
II. Exploring the Wisdom of Christ
A. The Study of Upward
Introduction to the four-week study of Paul Chilcote and Steve Harper's book.
Encouragement to engage with the book and small groups.
B. The Wesleyan Understanding of Wisdom
Movement and progress towards holiness.
The Wesley brothers’ reform of the Church of England and focus on practical faith.
III. Grace as a Foundation of Wisdom
A. Redefining Grace
Shift from medieval understanding of grace as a controlled substance.
Grace as God's unconditional and relational love.
B. The Implications of Grace
Grace leads to mercy, kindness, and radical hospitality.
Contrast with worldly wisdom focused on self-interest and exclusion.
IV. Living Out Christlike Wisdom
A. Characteristics of Christlike Wisdom
Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
The call to love even one’s enemies.
B. The Transformative Impact
Humility and gratitude as expressions of wisdom.
The church’s role in embodying this wisdom and offering hope to the world.
V. Conclusion: Embracing the "Foolishness" of God’s Wisdom
A. The "Foolishness" of Selfless Love
The wisdom of selfless love as seen in Jesus’ actions.
Encouragement to be “fools for Christ.”
B. The Hope and Power of Christ’s Wisdom
This wisdom has the power to heal and transform.
The church’s mission to live out this wisdom for the benefit of the world.
Outline Notes from the SermonI. Introduction
- September's Arrival: Acknowledgement of how quickly time is passing.
- Story of a Devout Man:
- A man decides to deepen his relationship with God by waking up at 5 a.m. daily for prayer and meditation.
- Challenge: The man’s affectionate cat distracts him during his prayer time.
- Solution: The man ties the cat to the bedpost to focus on God.
II. Legacy and Misinterpretation
- The Son’s Imitation:
- The son observes his father’s routine and aspires to follow it.
- As an adult, the son ties his cat to the bedpost but then engages in distractions like emails and work, missing the true purpose of the routine.
- Lesson: The son followed the form but missed the essence, illustrating a misunderstanding of what truly matters.
III. Scriptural Parallel: The Scribes and Pharisees
- Religious Rituals vs. True Purpose:
- The scribes and Pharisees, like the son, were focused on religious customs (e.g., hand-washing) but missed the deeper purpose of growing closer to God.
- Jesus' Critique:
- Jesus emphasizes that it’s not what goes into the mouth (rituals) but what comes out (words and actions) that defines a person.
- Missing the Point: The Pharisees were good at following rules but failed to focus on the weightier matters—spiritual growth and how faith is lived out.
IV. Modern-Day Reflection: Spiritual but Not Religious Movement
- Rise of "Spiritual but Not Religious" (SBNR):
- The SBNR movement gained momentum as people sought a relationship with God outside of organized religion.
- Many are turned off by institutional religion due to modern-day scribes and Pharisees.
- Lillian Daniel’s Insight:
- God in Everyday Life:
- It’s easier to see God in nature (e.g., sunsets) than in challenging human relationships (e.g., difficult people in church).
- Need for Both Spirituality and Religion:
- While personal spiritual experiences are valuable, learning to live, love, and grow with others in a religious community is equally important.
- God in Everyday Life:
V. The Call for Discernment
- Essentials vs. Non-Essentials:
- Discernment is necessary to distinguish between human traditions and God’s true will.
- Avoiding Empty Rituals:
- Like the man tying his cat to the bedpost, it's important not to get caught up in rituals that have lost their meaning.
- True Significance in Faith:
- Jesus’ Teachings:
- Focus on what emanates from the heart—how we treat others, the integrity of our words, and the compassion we show.
- The essence of faith is not in strict adherence to rules but in the love and kindness we express towards others.
- Jesus’ Teachings:
VI. Conclusion and Challenge
- Reflecting God’s Love:
- Challenge: Discern how to show God’s love through our actions and interactions.
- Untying the Cats: Identify and let go of practices or distractions that prevent us from living out the true purpose of our faith.
Love Begins with God: Love is not just an emotion but a divine command and covenant that originates from God. We are called to love because God first loved us, and this love forms the foundation of our relationship with Him and with others.
The Greatest Commandment: The command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is central to our faith. This total devotion to God naturally extends to loving our neighbors as ourselves, making these two commandments inseparable.
The Power of Self-Love and Neighborly Love: Recognizing our own worth as beloved children of God empowers us to love others. True love for our neighbors requires that we first understand and embrace our own value in God’s eyes, which enables us to love fully and selflessly.
Life's Transitions and Christian Faith: The sermon reflects on various significant life transitions—such as moving to college, marriage, and becoming a parent—and compares these to the spiritual transitions in a Christian's life, particularly the transformative process of baptism and living out one's faith. It emphasizes that just as life transitions shape us, our faith journey involves continuous transformation and growth.
Understanding Salvation and Grace: The sermon delves into John Wesley's understanding of salvation, highlighting that it is not just about reaching heaven but also about experiencing and living out God's grace here and now. It involves ongoing transformation, which includes inward renewal and producing love, aligning with Wesley's view of salvation as a lifelong process.
Living Out Christian Principles: The sermon urges believers to reflect Christian values in their daily lives, drawing from Ephesians to illustrate how Christians are called to live. This includes speaking truth, being angry about injustices without sinning, building one another up with kind and constructive words, and forgiving others as God has forgiven us. It challenges individuals to embody Christ-like behavior, demonstrating grace and love actively.
Embrace Your Divine Calling:
Each of us is filled with the power and presence of God, called to live Christ-like lives that embody kindness, patience, love, and generosity. Our mission is to trust in Christ's love for us and the world, and to give ourselves fully to that love.
Unity and Inclusion in Christ:
The church is a community where old divisions are broken down, and all are welcomed as gifts from God. We are incomplete without each other and must welcome everyone as we would welcome Christ, recognizing that people are not problems to be solved but beloved gifts to be cherished.
God's Abundant Provision:
Despite the overwhelming challenges in the world, we are reminded that God is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine. God has richly gifted the church with all that we need to be the body of Christ, embodying hope and love to change the world together.
Rev. Dr. Preston Davis’s sermon focuses on the teachings of Paul and their relevance to modern life. He begins by expressing gratitude for being back with his community and highlights the joy of simple pleasures and connections. Davis discusses the profound wisdom in Paul's prayers for the church in Ephesus, emphasizing the need for inner strength through the Spirit, rootedness in love, and comprehension of God's vastness. Through anecdotes and reflections, he illustrates that true strength and faith lie in embracing Christ's humble, loving example, encouraging the congregation to seek the fullness of God in their lives.
Rev. Dr. Brad Hinton's sermon emphasizes God's lavish grace and love towards humanity, drawing an analogy to adopting pets to illustrate the unconditional love and embrace God offers us. He reflects on how time passes quickly and how moments of adoption and embrace serve as glimpses into God's infinite love. Dr. Hinton delves into the nature of God, adoption into God's family, and the importance of living as beloved children, continuously embraced by God. He encourages the congregation to reflect God's grace and love in their actions, recognizing that this grace is freely given to all, calling for compassion and understanding even in difficult times. The sermon concludes with a call to serve and live a life of praise, fully embracing and sharing the love and grace bestowed upon us by God.
Rev. David Hockett emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our weaknesses and dependence on God. He argues that modern society values self-sufficiency and strength, leading us to hide our vulnerabilities. Drawing from scripture and personal anecdotes, he highlights how true spiritual growth begins with admitting our powerlessness. He uses the imagery of a broken vase repaired with gold to illustrate that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Ultimately, he calls for humility, surrender to God's will, and trust in God's sufficiency, especially as we face personal and communal challenges.
Rev. David Hockett's sermon reflects on the true nature of freedom, using the example of his friends who find joy and lightness in their travels. He explains that genuine freedom, as exemplified by Jesus and the saints, comes from living in the present and focusing on God's love. He acknowledges the struggles we face in truly living free due to our own choices and external circumstances, yet emphasizes that true freedom is found in following Jesus' way. As we approach July 4th, he encourages gratitude for our freedoms and reminds us to seek and proclaim liberation for those who are still captive.
Rev. David Hockett's sermon reflects on the story of David and Goliath, emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in God amidst fear and division. He suggests that David's true significance lies not in his courage but in his ability to tune out the noise and listen to God. Hockett encourages us to follow David's example by focusing on five "smooth stones"—speaking the truth in love, practicing Sabbath, loving others, allowing Christ to shape our imagination, and embodying humility. By doing so, we can navigate our own challenges and offer hope and peace to the world.
Rev. Meredith Hinton's Father's Day sermon delves into the narrative of 1 Samuel, focusing on Samuel's journey to anoint David as the future king of Israel. She reflects on the importance of looking beyond outward appearances and valuing the heart, emphasizing how God's love involves risk and free will. Hinton also highlights the significance of guiding and nurturing the younger generation, drawing parallels between David's formative years and the role of adults in shaping children's faith. She concludes by encouraging us to seek God authentically and be examples of trust and obedience.
Rev. Jim Humphries' sermon discusses the Israelites' decision to seek a king to govern them, reflecting their lack of trust in God. The Israelites, who previously relied on judges and prophets, desired a centralized political structure and military leader to mirror neighboring nations. This choice indicated a preference for human authority over divine guidance, prompting a reflection on modern trust issues. Humphries challenges the congregation to consider whether they trust institutions, leaders, and material security more than God, emphasizing that building trust in God requires a deep, personal relationship nurtured through time and devotion. Ultimately, he calls for trust in God’s unwavering care over the unreliable promises of earthly entities.
Rev. Hockett's sermon emphasized the importance of moving beyond "dead orthodoxy" to a living faith that truly embodies God's love. He shared a personal story about navigating COVID restrictions at a restaurant, illustrating how following the letter of the law can sometimes miss the spirit of it.Drawing from John Wesley's transformative experience at Aldersgate, Rev. Hockett reminded us that true faith combines correct beliefs with heartfelt love for God and neighbor. He encouraged us to be a missional people, actively loving and serving others, especially in these challenging times.In essence, the world needs more people who love like Jesus.
Rev. Jim Humphries explores the theme of fear in his sermon "Fear Not." Drawing parallels between childhood memories of "The Wizard of Oz" and Isaiah 6, he challenges the perception of God as a terrifying deity. Humphries emphasizes the message of love and reassurance in scripture, advocating against living in fear and promoting a God of forgiveness and mercy. He encourages listeners to embrace their role as partners in spreading God's love and to follow where God leads, rather than succumbing to fear.
Rev. David Hockett's sermon on Pentecost Sunday reflects on the dichotomy of life's beauty and challenges. He begins with personal anecdotes about movable feasts like Easter and Christmas, humorously illustrating the concept. He then delves into the complexities of life, acknowledging moments of celebration as well as tragedy, referencing recent events and existential questions.Drawing from Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, Hockett reflects on how life can feel barren and devoid of hope, akin to the exiled Israelites' sense of loss and disconnection from God. However, he emphasizes that the Spirit of God can bring life even in the most desolate places, challenging the notion that life is solely contingent on physical circumstances or locations.Highlighting the significance of Pentecost, Hockett celebrates the ongoing presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit, empowering believers and the Church to overcome challenges and experience renewal. He stresses that the Spirit breathes life into the Church, sustaining its vitality and purpose beyond human efforts.Hockett concludes with optimism, suggesting that the current moment may be a "holy moment" akin to Ezekiel's experience in the valley, calling for a forward-looking perspective filled with hope and anticipation of God's future. He encourages the congregation to embrace the transformative power of the Spirit and to move forward with faith and openness to God's possibilities.
Rev. Dianne Lawhorn's sermon reflects on the inevitability of transitions in life, drawing parallels between a child's first day of kindergarten and Jesus preparing his disciples for his departure. Through Jesus' prayer in John's Gospel, she emphasizes the importance of remaining connected to God amidst worldly challenges, seeking protection, unity, and joy in faith. Lawhorn underscores the value of a personal relationship with Jesus, urging listeners to abide in him for guidance, purpose, and fulfillment in ministry, despite worldly pressures. She encourages a focus on spiritual growth and authenticity, aspiring to lead others into a transformative connection with Christ.
Rev. David Hockett delivers a sermon reflecting on the recent United Methodist General Conference, emphasizing its diversity and the importance of love and unity in making decisions. He discusses significant conference outcomes, such as removing language excluding LGBTQ individuals and adopting revised social principles. Hockett underscores the Methodist tradition of connection, highlighting its global impact through missions and support for various causes. He invokes John Wesley's vision of Methodism as a community grounded in love, advocating for unity amidst diversity. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace Wesley's rules of doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God as a means to embody the body of Christ in their community.
Recently, there has been a lot written and said about how churches are declining, becoming less relevant, and what needs to be done to reverse that trend. This week’s reading from John suggests that the answer is not another program or strategy, or in clever leadership techniques. What is required is our remaining in Christ. Discipleship requires us to remain connected to the One whose promise couldn’t be more clear, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, when the relationship intimate and organic, the fruit will come.” God’s mission through the Church, to love and heal the world is about a practice, a way of life in which we stay connected to Christ who loves us in order that we might love others well.
Bishop Christian Alsted begins by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to preach at Davidson UMC, reflecting on the value of freedom and its significance in different contexts, notably in Ukraine. He shares insights on the concept of freedom, reflecting on personal limitations and the deeper freedom found in following Jesus's teachings. Drawing examples from scripture and experiences in Ukraine, he emphasizes the transformative power of God's grace and the communal nature of spiritual growth. Alsted concludes with a call to embrace a collective journey towards a better life rooted in love and faith.
For many of us, we think of Easter Sunday as the end of our Lenten season. So, Easter Sunday comes and goes and we settle back into life as if we've moved back into ordinary time. Instead, we should celebrate Easter as a season where the transformation that happened during our Lenten journey is lived out, alongside of the reality of the resurrection. This Sunday, we will be looking at Luke 24:36-48. This scripture speaks to us about the peace that Christ offers us within doubt. Come and experience, alongside of the disciples, the opening of your minds, as we witness together the miracle that the Easter season celebrates!
Easter morning and the empty tomb are behind us, but Jesus continues to amaze and surprise in the hours and days that follow. While the disciples are locked away in fear, Jesus appears among them and peacefully breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. But Thomas is not with the disciples that first evening, so he misses out on seeing the resurrected Lord. Was Thomas the only disciple not afraid to be out in public? Perhaps he was braver; had stronger faith than the others? When Jesus returns to the disciples a week later, and Thomas finally gets the opportunity to see his risen Lord, he believes and makes the first public profession of faith in Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" For Thomas the disciple, seeing was believing. How about for those of us who can't see Jesus; how do we believe? Read John 20: 19-31 to prepare for worship this Sunday.
Hear the good news of Easter. The crucified Son is also the risen Lord. The victim is also the Victor. The stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, the darkness is dispelled, the light shines, a new day is dawned. We are an Easter people. Not a Good Friday people, not a Saturday-life-in-between kind of people, but an Easter people. So, whatever fear, or loss, or guilt, or shame, or brokenness, or grief, or sin we carry - hear the good news and cling to hope. As Bishop Willimon noted, “Beyond the pain, beyond the loss, beyond the cross, there is an empty tomb. And there - new life begins.”
In the story of our faith, Jesus - King of the Jews, Savior of the world, God in the flesh - enters the holy city of Jerusalem in humility. He comes riding not on a war horse, not in a king’s chariot, not carrying a sword, but in humility on the back of a beast of burden. There is no ticker-tape parade, no marching band, no “Hail to the Chief”, no “God save the king”, no flowers thrown, no dignitaries greeting him. There are only the poor crowds lining the street with their coats, crying, “Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord.” Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and our journey with Jesus through the tragedy of the cross to the hope of Easter. Join us on Sunday as we hear again the familiar story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as its found in Mark 1:1-11.
In a recent gathering of pastors, Adam Hamilton noted, that there is the world as it is, and the world as it should be. The world as it should be is what we often refer to as the Kingdom of God. We see the world as it should be in Jesus. That is, in the way Jesus lived, welcomed, forgave, shared meals and table fellowship, healed, fed, and loved everyone, everywhere, we see what the world as it should be looks like. Last Sunday, I shared with our confirmands that part of what it means to be disciples of Christ and members of the Church, is that we join God in the mission of healing and transforming the world so that it looks more like God’s hope and dream for the world. We bring our gifts and passion alongside others to live out God’s better way of being human and make the world more as it should be. On Sunday, we’ll hear the story of Lazarus, reflect on the life of St. Patrick, and celebrate with our confirmands as they come to profess their faith and lean more fully into God’s hope and dream for their lives and the life of the world.
As we conclude our book and sermon series this Sunday on Adam Hamilton's "Unafraid", we'll explore events that happen to us all: aging, illness, and death. While some of the fears that grip us in life are often unwarranted, it is beyond doubt that each of us will, in fact, become sick, get older, and die. So how do we cope with our fears that accompany these certainties of life? The Bible, and Jesus in particular, offer words of encouragement and hope to help us overcome our fears and worries. Read Part Five of Unafraid, and John 14: 25-27 to prepare for worship this Sunday.
If time allowed, we could work our way around the Sanctuary on any given Sunday and hear stories about how life can be overwhelming, leaving us worried and afraid. Apocalyptic tragedy and devastating loss, welcome and unwelcome change, concern over finances and the future, and fear of what we might miss if we make decision or take one path over another, can all leave us overwhelmed, worried, and afraid. And this is normal. As Hamilton notes, it’s normal and healthy to fear certain things and to be worried at times. The problem is when the worry or fear takes hold of us and controls us, leaving us paralyzed or stuck (p. 145). As a remedy to paralyzing worry, Jesus invites us to pursue God’s Kingdom. That is, he doesn’t dismiss our concerns and worries as insignificant, rather, he reminds us of God’s love and care for us and invites us to pursue God who loves and cares for us. Therein lies the pathway, not around the things that lead to worry and fear, but through them, with Christ as our friend and guide.
This Sunday, we continue in our Church-Wide Study "Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times" by Adam Hamilton. We'll be looking at Part 3: Failure, Disappointing Others, Insignificance, and Loneliness. We will learn from Psalm 139 about what it means to discover our identity within our relationship with God. This relationship should be primary in our lives. It should be the place where we find purpose and worth. It is through companionship with God that we discover ourselves to be accepted, valued, and loved.
DUMC is hosting a Church-Wide Study through March 10 on the book "Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times" by Adam Hamilton. This Sunday’s sermon relates to Part Two in the book: Crime, Race, Terrorism, and Politics.
On Sunday, we begin our congregation-wide book study and a 5-part sermon series using Adam Hamilton’s Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times. Fear is pervasive. It undermines relationships, makes us suspicious of others, is the root of much conflict and war, and is counter to the Gospel’s command to love. On Sunday, we’ll reflect on Isaiah’s encouragement to Israel to counter fear by trusting God. Isaiah writes, “Do not fear, for I am with you…”. (Isaiah 41:8-10) More than 140 times the Bible encourages us, “Do not be afraid.” God’s desire is that we not be captive to fear but free to love and therein lies our hope. So join us for this important conversation by reading along and listening to the sermons. We’ll see you on Sunday.
In this week’s reading from Mark (1:29-39), Mark tells us that Jesus is in the region around the Galilee traveling from synagogue to synagogue teaching and healing, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. When the crowd began to die down, while it was still night, Jesus got up and went out to a secluded place to pray. Simon and the others went looking for him, and when they found him, they said, “Everybody’s looking for you.” It’s a beautiful scene. Everybody was looking for Jesus – to have their bodies healed, their minds cleared, their worries and fears calmed, their sins forgiven, their hopes fulfilled, looking for Jesus to give them peace, a chance to begin again, to experience new life. Jesus’ life was one of balance. He went away for prayer and communion with God, and he served those in need. We are called to the same balance. When we find it, that sacred equilibrium, we become good news for all who may be looking for Jesus.
This week, we gather to celebrate the dedication of DUMC’s new facilities. These beautiful spaces represent a significant investment in DUMC’s future and are an expression of our commitment to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and the world. We are grateful for all who helped make this day possible and look forward to seeing you on Sunday for one combined service at 10:00 a.m.
This Sunday, we will hear a familiar scripture passage, when Jesus calls his first disciples and says: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people." Jesus says this to four men (Simon, Andrew, James and John) who all happen to be fishermen for a living. I wonder what metaphor Jesus might have used had his first disciples been shepherds, rather than fishermen - perhaps "follow me, and I will make you feed my sheep." Our scripture story moves us to think what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and perhaps rethink how we utilize our time, energy, resources, and even our vocation to be faithful in Jesus' call to "follow me." Read Mark 1: 14-20 to prepare for Sunday worship.
he season of Epiphany invites us, like Nathanael and the other disciples, to come and see (John 1:43-51). And upon seeing, to then be in the world in a different way, to embody Christ’s better way of being human, to live and love like Christ. So that, part of what it means to live the way of Christ, is learning to see people. And not just the people who are obvious, or who the world makes it easy to see, or those whom the world says are worthy of being seen, but learning to see all the people, especially those who are often invisible or whom we’d prefer to ignore. Because Jesus saw everyone, everywhere, even Nathanael under a fig tree. And he saw them all as being fearfully and wonderfully made. He saw them for their sacred worth. And upon seeing them, he offered love, acceptance, and an invitation to belong.
This week we will observe Baptism of the Lord Sunday. We’ll hear again the story of Jesus’ baptism (Mark 4:1-11), and stepping into the water once again, we’ll remember our baptism, or look forward to the day when we will be baptized into life with Christ. Baptism reminds us of who we are, a people who are loved by God and who are made for relationship with God. So, we begin this new year in hope that it might be more than the year that is past because of Jesus who has joined us in the water.
The second chapter of Luke’s gospel reports the angel’s joyful announcement to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid…to you is born this day…a Savior.” Working our way through Diana Butler Bass’s Freeing Jesus, we’ve considered what it means to experience and know Jesus as Friend and Teacher – as one who both invites us into loving union with God and who teaches us how to become all that God created us to be. This week we come to perhaps the most common, familiar, and often misunderstood name for Jesus – Savior. Likely, we’ve all seen the signs and bumper stickers – Jesus Saves - or the billboards that invite us to ask Jesus to be our Savior today. Western, and Protestant Christians in particular, give a lot of airtime to Jesus as Savior. So, what does it mean, to say that Jesus saves or that Jesus is our Savior? Bass hopes we’ll come to see that it is about far more than avoiding hell and “getting our ticket punched for heaven”. The salvation Jesus brings is personal and social and involves the transformation of our lives and the world so that all experience freedom, joy, and loving union with God both now and in the life to come.
Wesley envisioned and organized Methodism to be a school for holiness, that is, a community of prayer, study, worship, service, and accountability through which we learn how to love God and love neighbor. Discipleship then, is a way of life, it is about how we learn from Jesus to be human the way God intends for us to be human. In this week’s reading from John (13:12-17), Jesus teaches us that if we are to be counted among his friends then we must follow his example of downward mobility. “You are my friends, when you do what I command you to do. Love one another as I have loved you, and give your life away for others.” (John 15) Jesus, our Teacher, who is the divine Word of God, emptied himself and became a servant, both to wash the sin and brokenness from our lives, and to teach us, to give us an example of what it means to be fully human. Learning from him, we experience freedom, joy, and abundant life.
There is a sense in which we cannot ever really know Jesus apart from a willingness and commitment, however imperfect, to follow him. This is because Jesus is not an idea to be debated. Jesus is a person, alive and among us, who wants to be known, who loves us and wants to be in relationship. And like all relationships, our friendship with Jesus takes time, and effort, and attention. This week we begin our church-wide book study and sermon series on Diana Butler Bass’ Freeing Jesus. Bass invites us to consider what it might mean for us to “free” Jesus from all the institutional and religious stuff we place upon Jesus, so that we might experience him in relationship, fully and freely, for who he is. When we do, we encounter one who is our friend, and whose friendship defines our relationship with God and with one another.
This week we find ourselves by the river Jordan where John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming an opportunity to experience forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal. People came to John from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, they were baptized and immersed into a new life. We also meet Jesus there, with John by the river, as he also comes to be baptized by John in the Jordan. Matthew tells us that the moment Jesus emerged from the water he heard the voice of God: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love." Here at the beginning of his ministry we are granted a glimpse of Jesus’ identity. Jesus is the beloved one, God’s only Son, the first fruits of God’s new creation. In and through baptism we receive our identity, are caught up in the life of Christ, and share in Christ’s belovedness. On Sunday we will remember, or anticipate, our baptism, and reaffirm our commitment to walk in the way of Jesus who is our light and life.
This Sunday is Epiphany Sunday. We will read the story of King Herod and the wise men from the East. We will explore more of the Christmas story and hear about what the wise men did and where they traveled. The scripture this week says that "they left for their own country by another road" (Matthew 2:12). As we begin a new year we will reflect on the roads that we may be traveling this year, so as you prepare for worship, we invite you to reflect on the roads you have taken last year and the roads ahead for 2023.
In Sunday’s reading from Matthew 1:18-25 we meet Joseph, Mary’s husband, and watch as Joseph is confronted by the news that Mary will have a son. It’s hard to imagine how frightened, disappointed, and even angry Joseph must have been. And yet, anxious and upset as he was, Joseph says “yes” to Mary, to Jesus, and to God. Joseph is able to say yes because of love. In some way, it seems that Joseph grasped, or perhaps he had been grasped by, this strange new thing God was doing. The good news of Christmas had taken hold of his life, the reality that it was nothing less than the very love of God taking on flesh in Mary had so captured his heart and mind that Joseph himself is moved to respond in love. Now this is not love as we have come to know it, not love as an emotion or feeling, but love as a lived-out commitment, a long obedience that seeks the good of the other. What Joseph discovered is that loving God and others in this way is the foundation and source of all true joy.
The Christmas gospel, the message that God has come among us, has invaded our world to reclaim it and make it new is to some a threat and to others a welcome promise. It is to all a message about how God has turned the world upside down, has upset both the power structures of this world, and the assumption of how things ought to be. It is the story, the announcement about how God in Christ is dramatically and radically reworking, reclaiming God’s creation. We’ve done a pretty good job of sanitizing and domesticating the gospel, of trying to make the message a bit easier to swallow and to make God manageable and useful for our agendas. But, John the Baptizer, this strange character we encounter in this week’s reading from Matthew (3:1-12), will not let that be. Our religious institutions and traditions cannot and must not be used as a defense mechanism to protect ourselves from the purging fire of God’s love. No, this strange holy man boldly proclaims that God is coming, like an earthmover, leveling mountains, raising valleys, building a highway straight to us. God is coming to bring peace to us and to the world, says John, be ready.
The word advent means “coming” or “to come” and Advent is that season of the Christian year when we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Christ’s coming at Christmas and Christ’s coming again in glory. We acknowledge that in some sense we are living in between those two appearances of Christ. We are waiting – celebrating and giving thanks for what God has already done in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and anxiously awaiting what God will do when Christ’s Kingdom comes in its fullness. As we seek to be the Church, the body of Christ, in this liminal space we are called to wait expectantly, to be prepared, in order that we might receive Christ whenever and however he comes to us. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that we wait in hope because the day is coming when swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. In the birth of Jesus that new day has begun and that changes everything.
The Christian year revolves around the life of Jesus, beginning with his promised coming and birth in the seasons of Advent and Christmas, moving toward his passion, death, and resurrection marked by the seasons of Lent and Easter, turning towards the birth of the Church at Pentecost, and then to a long reflection on the life and witness of his followers in the months following Pentecost, throughout the summer and Fall. The journey culminates this week with what is known as Christ the King Sunday or the Reign of Christ Sunday, where we focus on the Lordship or reign of Christ. Using the crucifixion narrative from the gospel of Luke (23:33-43) and Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:1-11), we’ll see how Christ’s power is markedly different from the rulers of this world. In Christ we encounter a kingdom where power is expressed in humility and love, and that makes all the difference for those who follow Christ as Savior and Lord.
Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. will be at Davidson UMC on Sunday, November 13 for all three services. His sermon, The Peaceable Kingdom will be the text from Isaiah.
Bishop Carter is the resident bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference. He earned degrees from Columbus College, Duke Divinity School, the University of Virginia, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He has served as president of the Council of Bishops, a moderator of the Commission on a Way Forward, the chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Committee on Episcopacy, and as a conference delegate. He is the author of 18 books. He was a local church pastor for 28 years and has preached in 20 countries on 4 continents. Bishop Carter’s hope for the church is that she will rediscover an orthodox Christian faith that offers the radically inclusive grace of God to all people and that calls every follower of Jesus to inner holiness, missional compassion, justice rooted in the gospel, and a hopeful story of transformation.
Last Sunday, we heard a story about gratitude. A story about how the world, the landscape of our lives is changed when Jesus and the Kingdom draw near. The story of the 10 lepers points to the transformation and renewal that Christ brings, and how the corresponding awareness that all of life is a windfall should move us to a life of joy and thanksgiving This week that theme continues as we hear the story of Jesus’ encounter with a tax collector named Zacchaeus.(Luke 19:1-10) Christ’s table fellowship with Zacchaeus, who the good religious folk were sure was beyond the love and welcome of God, points to God’s strange Kingdom where forgiveness, love, welcome, and grace are offered to all. God, in Christ redefines who’s “deserving” of a seat at the table and that changes how we relate to our neighbors and our possessions.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “Gratitude… claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” Luke’s telling of the story of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) points us in the direction of Nouwen’s observation. Ten are healed, one returns. It’s likely that all are grateful, but one seems to understand that all of life is a windfall, and that understanding changes everything.
This week we conclude our study of Mike Slaughter’s Dare to Dream, by reflecting upon what Slaughter calls, “a no-quit perseverance.” He suggests that the way we persevere in pursuing God’s dream for our lives is not by mustering up some superhuman strength, it is by maintaining our focus on the mission. This is what Jesus means when he says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how terrible that darkness will be! No one can serve two masters.”(Matthew 6:22-24) Jesus is speaking here about the importance of maintaining clarity and focus on that which is most important – the dream of God’s Kingdom. Our eyesight, our vision has to have clear focus on God’s mission. We can’t serve competing visions for our lives and if we lose sight of the vision we are likely to perish, that is, we will miss out on living a life that really is life. Moses succeeded because he remained focused on the God-sized dream he had been given. He was able to persevere because he was clear that it was God’s mission, and not his own, to which he was called. “Perseverance means remembering who empowers the mission” and trusting God to sustain us knowing that the mission is not ours to begin with and the mission is possible because God is with us.
As we continue our study this week of Mike Slaughter's Dare to Dream, we are encouraged to see our lives not simply with our own eyes, but with God's vision for us. What are the gifts of my head and my hands, and what is the passion of my heart? These are questions we should ask ourselves as we try to determine God's purpose for our lives. We continue this Sunday to look at the life of Moses and how he might be a model for us all. Read Exodus 4: 1-5 to prepare for Sunday.
This week, we continue in our Church-Wide Study of the book Dare to Dream written by Mike Slaughter. We'll be looking at Chapter four, which discusses the barriers to discerning and answering God’s call.
We'll continue examining Exodus 3- the Story of Moses' calling, as we look at the excuses he makes, as he questions God's call to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. God reminds him in this passage of who He is and that He will go with Him in this mission.
Join us today as we consider what stands in the way of our discerning and answering God's call for our lives. We'll look at what barriers compromise our confidence in ourselves and our confidence in our God.
One of the most gripping stories in all of scripture comes from Exodus 3, when Moses encounters a bush on Mt. Horeb. The bush is ablaze, but not consumed by the fire. When Moses sees this odd occurrence, he draws near to hear God speak, giving him a commission to deliver the Israelite people from their oppression in Egypt. Over the centuries, we have come to speak of "burning bush experiences" to refer to those moments when we have felt especially close to God, and perhaps even heard God speaking to us in some way. As we continue our study of Mike Slaughter's Dare to Dream, chapter 3 suggests that we can discover our own burning bush if we look for it, and that our burning bush will help us determine God's purpose for our life. Read Exodus 3: 1-10 to prepare for worship this Sunday.
This week we continue our journey through Mike Slaughter’s book Dare to Dream, focusing on chapter 2. Here Slaughter reminds us that God is inviting us to an adventure, to live the dream, to live a life that honors God, blesses others, and brings us joy. As we listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer, searching the Scriptures, and in the voice of others, we discern where we see the greatest need in our neighborhood, our community, and in the world. We see more clearly how we can cooperate with God in meeting those needs, and, we understand what giftedness we bring to the work, to the mission. In this way we mature in faith, uncover our “change the world purpose”, and become a part of God’s hope and dream for the world. (Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13)
Have you ever wondered, “What does God want me to do with this life I’ve been given? What difference can I make? How can I live more fully the abundant life Jesus came to bring” If so, you’re asking questions about God’s dream for your life. We all have goals - get an education, make money, spend time with family, travel more - but goals can change with each season. God’s dream, God’s hope for your life never changes. This week we’ll begin a six-week sermon series designed to help you discern God’s dream for the gift of your life. Using Mike Slaughter’s book, Dare to Dream, as our guide, we’ll consider how we might respond to God’s claim on our lives and experience the life God created us to live. In week-one we’ll spend some time reflecting on Jacob and Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28:10-13). Here Jacob is confronted with God’s hope and dream for his life and how he was caught up in God’s dream in ways he could not comprehend. Purchase a copy of the book, read along, and we’ll see you on Sunday.
This week we will explore the passage from Luke 14:25-33, which invites us to think about our faith journey and our life as Christians. We will explore and reflect on Jesus saying, "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" and "none of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions." What does this mean for us today? What is our relationship with our possessions as they relate to us being disciples? What is Jesus calling us to? As you prepare for worship this week, begin reflecting on your life as a follower of Jesus Christ and how you live out your faith.
In this week’s reading from Hebrews (13:1-8, 15-16) the writer rounds out his/her sermon with a set of ethical teachings which function as the “therefore” portion of the sermon. Because we believe this about Christ, “therefore” live in this way. This section offers practices - love, compassion, hospitality, and fidelity - that set the Christian community apart from its broader culture by describing the way of life that makes us peculiar and distinct. These words of encouragement function as markers on the trail. They keep us on the path and on our way to the goal. The writer of Hebrews is saying, not unlike a coach would say to an athlete, here are the practices, the routines, the rituals you need to keep you in shape, to equip you for running this race well. They also point others to the kind of life that really is life. In other words, here we see the better way of being human and living life together that Christ brings.
The writer of Hebrews (12:18-29) reminds us that, in Christ, we’ve come to the very heart of God where Jesus the Christ mediates a new covenant, written not in stone but on our hearts. The new covenant in Christ is a moment of crisis that reorients our lives in the direction of God’s kingdom of mercy, justice, and love. Our awareness of this reorientation should strengthen us in running the race and should lead us to joy, gratitude, and worship. Building on this idea, the healing story we encounter in this week’s gospel reading (Luke 13:10-17) is a vivid reminder that to worship God is to love and adore God and all that God has made, including our neighbor. In other words, to worship God is to love neighbor, and to love neighbor is to worship the God in whose image our neighbors are made.
This week’s reading locates us within the Letter to the Hebrews (11:29-12:2). Hebrews is written to a church that has grown weary in keeping the faith. They are worn down and worn out and are on the verge of giving up hope. Given the challenges facing our world and the church, we may at times feel the same. To those weary Christians the writer of Hebrews has a simple and direct word of encouragement: “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished the race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish of a glorious life in and with God—for the sake of this joy he endured the disgrace and shame of the cross, disregarding its shame.” So, if you are feeling tired, disheartened, or wanting to simply walk away from faith, Hebrews says, keep your eyes on Jesus. See what he endured for the world’s sake, see how much he loves you and the world that despised him, and learn from him the shape of your life. His love is more than enough to sustain us.
This week the passage we will be explore is Luke 12:32-40. In this passage we will hear about not being afraid, selling our possessions, being dressed for action, and having our lamps lit. We will hear the story about the homeowner and thief. You may recall the Scripture says, if the homeowner would have known when the thief was coming then the house wouldn’t have been broken into. And finally the Scripture says, “you also must be ready.” We will explore what it means for us as Christians to be ready. What are we getting ready for? How do we get ready?
It shouldn’t be surprising that Jesus talked a lot about money. After all, our misplaced understanding and love of money can often make it the biggest idol in our lives. Sometimes Jesus discussed money simply because people asked him specifically about it, and he was compelled to respond. This is the case in Sunday’s scripture from Luke 12: 13-21, when a man approached Jesus and said: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” Jesus responded with one of his most well-known parables, what we often call the “parable of the rich fool.” Living in the U.S. in the 21st century, surely we can affirm that we’re “rich” in comparison to vast populations across the world and throughout history. Even those of us going paycheck-to-paycheck are living at a standard that millions around the globe can only dream of. Jesus’ parable can help us remember not to be foolish with the blessings of our lives, and to truly give thanks for how “rich” we are.
It is an old story and yet a very contemporary one. We often doubt God’s providential care, we fail to trust God with our lives, believing we can secure our own future. We often fail to nurture the most essential and important relationship we have and the failure to trust God with our lives and to nurture the most important relationship we have leads to bondage and death. As Israel would discover over and over, when we neglect or take for granted our relationship with God, things don’t go well, life becomes off balance, and the hardships and struggles that life surely brings our way become all the more difficult to navigate. The prophet Hosea knew this and called Israel to give themselves wholeheartedly to God. To a people who had turned to idols and toxic politics for their survival and security, Hosea speaks the words of a broken-hearted God who loves his people and longs to be in relationship in spite of and perhaps even because of their infidelity.
This week’s gospel reading from Luke relates the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Mary is prayerfully focused on Jesus. Martha is “distracted by many things.” My guess is that many of us can relate to Martha. Our lives are busy, crowded, and distracted, and prayerful focus on Jesus seems like a luxury. And yet, as Richard Foster has suggested what the world and the Church needs is not more intelligent people, not more gifted people, and certainly not more busy people. Rather, what the Church, what the world desperately needs is deep people. What the world needs is people like Mary who are spending time regularly sitting at Jesus’ feet, people investing in time alone listening to God. The world needs us to be a people whose lives are bathed in prayer and whose discipleship, whose faithful busyness, is rooted in a life lived in communion with Christ.
This week Luke relates the story of Jesus’ encounter with an expert in the Jewish Law. Jesus replies to the young lawyer’s questions with questions of his own, and by telling the story of a Samaritan, and a man beaten and left for dead. What Jesus wanted the young man, and us, to see is that the greatest commandment is not to be right, but to be in love. Anyone can memorize correct responses to a few theological questions. What matters is that the right answers lead to righteous and faithful living. What matters is the fruit of the Spirit born out of our belief and faith in God. Faithfulness means loving like Jesus and recognizing that everyone is our neighbor, and all, all deserve the kindness and gentleness of God.
On this Sunday, July 3, we are all undoubtedly thinking about the foundation that our country was built upon, the freedoms and independence we enjoy, and the hope of prosperity and flourishing. We want to celebrate these things in our hearts, until we begin to consider how far we’ve drifted from this foundation, as our country truly struggles to find her soul. This brings disappointment to our spirits. Our scripture for today provides a word of comfort in the midst of this disappointment, which gives us a reason to rejoice. It reminds us of the loving, nurturing, care of God that can bring us the peace that we are longing for. It also casts a vision of a different kind of kingdom, that we are invited to participate in that offers restoration, hope, and new life.
Following Jesus isn’t a program of self-help, by which we gain greater control over our lives in order that we might achieve the success and happiness for which we long. As we learn from this week’s reading from Luke (Luke 9:51-62), following Jesus is about giving up our lives, surrendering our lives, and learning to take up the life of Christ. Jesus says, if you want the life that really is life, if you want to be your truest and best self, your God created self, if you want to be free, then you must let the old, self-centered, control oriented life go, and take up your cross, and follow in his way. Discipleship is a long-obedience in the same direction in which we learn to let go of all that distracts and preoccupies us in order that we might walk in the way that Christ has opened before us, so that we might experience the expansive vision that God has for our lives.
This week we will be reflecting on the passage from Galatians 3:23-29. In this passage we hear the well known verses that in our baptism we have clothed ourselves with Christ (27), as well as, that we are all one in Christ Jesus (28). We will reflect on what this means for us today and how we can embody these verses.
In the liturgical year, the Sunday following Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – all are God and God is One. The doctrine of the Trinity is not some philosophical formula to be interpreted, or some kind of higher math to be solved, rather it is the way we name who God is, and how God is at work to heal and save us. To say that God is Trinity, three in one or Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is simply another way of saying that the God we worship and love, the God who created all there is, who came to us in Jesus the Word made flesh, and who is with us through the power of the Holy Spirit, is a God of relationship. Trinity means that God is a community of love. By and for love, God reaches out and invites us into the divine relationship, to participate in the holy communion, the friendship that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And so, sharing in the divine life, or the fellowship of the Trinity, is what it means to be saved. John points to this when he writes, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; and….All that the Father has is mine.” (John 16:12-15)
This week, we gather to celebrate God’s breathing the Church into existence by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2) Pentecost is about our being filled with the presence and power of the resurrected Christ that we might continue the mission of Christ to heal and save the world. It’s about having Christ’s Spirit flow in and through us. It is not so much about our feelings. And it’s not about being overcome with emotion, having a nice religious high, raising our hands in praise and then returning home, back to life as usual as if nothing significant had happened at all. No, being filled with the Spirit of the living Christ means having our lives consumed by Christ. It means having our hearts set on fire with love for God and love for the world for which Christ came. It means that we come to look and sound like Jesus, until as Paul says, “…it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me….” (Galatians 2:20a) Pentecost is a celebration, pointing us to the potential implanted within and imparted to Christ’s followers to be the change and transformation for which we pray.
According to Acts 1: 1-11, the resurrected Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God before ascending to heaven. So on the church calendar, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord each year on the 40th day of the season of Easter (this year, May 26). Throughout Christian history, the Ascension of the Lord has been a celebrated, honored holiday and feast day -- though good luck finding any “Ascension Day” cards at the Hallmark store today. We tend to gloss over the story of Christ’s ascension these days, which is unfortunate. So this Ascension Sunday, we will seek to determine what Jesus’ ascension means for us today, particularly in the midst of tragedies and difficult times our country currently faces. (Parents, please note that this Sunday’s sermon will discuss the recent shooting in Texas).
In this week’s reading from the gospel of John (John 14:23-29), Jesus comforts his friends by encouraging them to not be afraid. The phrase “fear not” or “do not be afraid” appears at least 100 times in Scripture. While we may acknowledge that there are things which frighten us, Scripture urges us to not be controlled by fear. Instead, we are called to love, trusting that love casts out fear. Fear narrows the circle of our lives. It constricts, and it can choke the life out of us as individuals and as the church. Jesus was always about widening the circle and loving and inviting others in even when it was risky. The decline we see in the Church in the U.S. is, in part, the result of the Church’s unwillingness to take the risk to love. Instead, our witness is too often motivated by fear – fear of decline, fear that resources are scarce, fear that strangers might change us, fear of the unknown, fear that keeps us planted in the past while Jesus is calling us to follow him into God’s future. A Church motivated by fear is powerless to change the world. But friends, if our life as Church is in Christ’s hands, we can take the risk of love, knowing that love casts out fear.
Davidson UMC Youth hosts Sarah Payne and Anna Liz Turner talk with graduating high school seniors Shelby Liebler and Mitch Dreffer. The four discuss the importance of being engaged with the church as students, share some of their memories, and also what their plans are for the future. You won't want to miss this fun and insightful episode.
On Sunday, we listen in as Jesus says to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”(John 13:34-35) Discipleship is the name we give to the process of our becoming, of how, in spending time with Christ we become more like Christ and reflect Christ’s will and way in the world. As Eugene Peterson points out, “Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in Christ’s way, steadily and firmly, and then finding that Christ’s way integrates all our interests, passions, and gifts, our human needs and eternal aspirations. Discipleship involves our coming to see more clearly the way of life for which we were created, and that way is love. Indeed, the world will know that we belong to Christ by how we love.
In this week’s gospel reading (John 10:22-30) Jesus calls us sheep. It was a reference folks in his context could identify with and understand. Beyond that, I think he did so for a couple of reasons. He knows that we need someone, or something to define the way for us, to lead us, to push us forward, to call us in the way that we should go. He also knows that we have a tendency to wander off. It may not even always be intentional, but sometimes we become absorbed with what’s in front of us, preoccupied with many things, we get distracted and like sheep preoccupied with grazing, we look up and discover that we’ve slipped away and are not as centered in our faith as we might like to be. It’s like the hymn says, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” Jesus called us sheep, because he knew we needed a shepherd. Someone to watch over us, to show us the way, to call us home when we’ve wandered a bit too far, and someone to lead us to green pastures and to help us in the midst of chaotic and uncertain life to find the still waters (Psalm 23). Of course, for this relationship to work, we, like sheep, must listen to the shepherd. Herein lies the importance of worship, prayer, loving our neighbors, and holy friendships. These are among the places where the voice of the Good Shepherd can be heard above the din of our hectic and hurried lives. Thankfully, if we listen, God is still speaking.
Sunday will be a beautiful day at Davidson UMC as we celebrate the confirmation of almost 40 youth. For several months they've learned together and journeyed together, growing deeper in their faith. We are grateful for the energy, creativity, and gifts they bring to our life together. They make us a better church. This week we will focus on the Gospel of John and Peter's second call. As we celebrate with our youth and their families, we are reminded that we are all, as Church, called to follow Jesus and love the people he loved. See you on Sunday.
Location. Location. Location. Many of us have heard location is a very important aspect in real estate.
This week as we continue in the Easter season we will be looking at the passage from John 20. This passage is the story of Jesus meeting the disciples in the locked home. He offers them peace and they rejoiced. This is also the passage with the well-known story about doubting Thomas, who wants to see the marks of crucifixion on Jesus’ hands and side. Thomas is often the theme of this passage; however, this week we will be exploring where Jesus meets them. We will think about location. We hope you will join us in person or online as we explore the Scripture together.
Davidson UMC Youth, featuring hosts Sarah Payne and Anna Liz Turner, have started a podcast for youth!
On this first episode they talk to DUMC's Senior Pastor David Hockett and discuss his calling, what his job is like, and the weirdest thing that has happened to him on the job.
“New creation has begun, and you are invited to be a part of it.”(NT Wright) This is the good news the women shared with the disciples upon returning from the tomb that first Easter morning.(Luke 24:1-12) In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has re-ordered the rhythm of this world, has re-ordered creation, and we are invited to be a part of that new order. Easter is, in a way, God’s magnum opus, God’s symphony, in which all of creation is invited into a new rhythm, a new way of being that is defined, not by cause and effect, but by cross and resurrection. Resurrection means that the beauty, glory, and love of God, incarnate in Christ, now permeates all creation. As an Easter people, a community of new life, we are called to share the good news and live resurrected lives, not only on Easter, but each and every day.
Following Jesus is an extraordinary gift, and it can be costly and demanding. As we draw near to Christ, become members of his body, and follow him more closely we become more generous, loving, and free. In following Jesus, we become a people who are salt and light, a foretaste of the Kingdom of heaven on earth, the very hope of the world. On Sunday we begin our Holy Week journey focusing our attention on Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The celebratory scene of Jesus riding into the city with crowds waving palm branches to honor him is in stark contrast to where the week ends when the once jubilant crowds cry for blood. Palm Sunday is a day to consider our place in the crowd and what it means for us to follow, not merely to admire or appreciate Jesus, but to answer the call to take up the cross and follow, knowing that to follow someone is to become more like them.
David, Kevin, and Karen are back together again for a Lenten check-in and a look ahead to Holy Week. As usual, there are laughs and an assortment of other conversations.
As we continue to prepare for Easter on this fifth Sunday in Lent, we will be reflecting on the passage from John where Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume. We will hear about Judas Iscariot complaining about the cost of the perfume and then we will hear Jesus’ response. You are invited to join us in-person or online as we reflect on this passage together.
In this week’s reading (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) we encounter the Church in Corinth. Corinth was a difficult, often wild, and impenitent place. Paul founded the church there and his relationship with the Corinthian Christians was often difficult and bittersweet. Paul loved them, felt responsible for them as a father in the faith, and often wrote to them giving advice, counsel, and correction. In this section of the letter, Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians of the new creation work that God is doing to reconcile all things, to heal division and restore the relationship between us and God, us and our neighbors, and us and creation. The Church is breathed into life by the Spirit precisely for God’s mission of reconciling, healing, and transforming the world. And so, Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth, that as Church, our vocation is to be not only the gathered people of God, but also sent by God to be ambassadors of God’s new creation work.
Kevin and Karen are joined with two delightful guests - Davidson College student Catie Holshouser and Cindy Turner (yes, Kevin's wife!). Catie is the Campus Ministry Intern and Cindy is the Lay Leader for Campus Ministry. The four have conversations about being a Davidson College student, faith, and Davidson Wesley Group updates. And they tell us who else has been involved in Davidson Wesley and where they are today.
In this week’s gospel reading from Luke (13:1-9), we encounter a world-view shared by many of Jesus’ contemporaries – tragedy, sudden death, illness, and suffering are punishment for sin. Likewise, good health, success, wealth, and prosperity are signs of God’s blessing and favor and are the result of a person’s goodness or righteousness. In his interaction with a crowd, Jesus responds by rejecting the idea that the offer of God’s love and mercy are somehow related to our goodness or lack thereof. He points to a fruitless fig tree and a gardener who is patient and willing to allow the fig tree time to respond to the gardener’s care as a reminder of how we must not define the moral character of others based upon their life circumstances. God’s love transcends our goodness and our sin. And, God’s patient and persistent desire is that all of us might be re-created, renewed, and bear much fruit.
We take a step further in our journey to the cross on this Second Sunday of Lent. Last week, we focused on Jesus’ temptation. This week, we will focus on Jesus’ sorrow. Our scripture comes to us from Luke 13:31-35. It begins with a warning from the Pharisees for Jesus about Herod’s plan to kill him, but it becomes a reflection on the nature of Jesus’ life and mission. It highlights the tragic role played by Jerusalem in the life of Jesus. Jerusalem had a history of rejecting the Messiah, just as it had rejected it’s forerunners. But Jesus’ life and death would not be determined by Herod or the Pharisees. His life was planned and directed by God and His mission would unfold in God’s time and according to God’s plan. This passage invites readers to consider how we have recognized and resisted Jesus’ message and kingdom and the role that we play in Jesus’ continuing ministry.
Our gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent is Luke 4:1-13, where Luke tells the story of Jesus being tempted. As we enter into the season of Lent, a season of reflection and fasting, a season of preparation for our annual celebration of Easter, what does Jesus being tempted in the wilderness have to do with us? Most of us would probably not claim that Satan or some adversary had come to us and tempted us to engage in this or that behavior, especially temptations like Jesus faced - turning stones into bread, jumping off the roofs of buildings, or inheriting the kingdoms of the world, so what are we to make of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness? And what difference does it make for us if Jesus was tempted? Even more, if Jesus’ temptation does make any difference at all, what does it say to us as we strive to follow Christ, to be more like him, to take up the cross and follow?
On this special episode, David, Kevin, and Karen have the opportunity to talk with Pastor Jozef Bartos, from Metodysci w Krakowie, and Kate Werner who both live in Krakow, Poland. They discuss the current situation with Ukraine and Russia and how it is affecting life and people in their area. DUMC choirs traveled to Krakow in 2015 and performed at Pastor Bartos' church.
This week we conclude our series on Jesus’ parable of the father who had two lost sons. We’ve noted who was gathered that day listening to Jesus teach – both people of questionable reputation, people on the margins of faith and life, and the Pharisees and religion scholars, and everyone in between. We saw how Jesus directed much of what he had to say at those who were considered the good, moral, religious people of the day. We noted that, while it doesn’t appear in the story, the word prodigal means recklessly extravagant, which means that what Jesus is doing in this story is telling two very different groups of people a story about God, and how “God’s reckless, extravagant, prodigal love is our greatest hope.” (Keller, XV) We listened in as Jesus redefined sin as missing the mark of the father’s love, rather than a simplistic list of do’s and don’ts, and what Jesus hopes we’ll see, is that both sons are caught in their own sin and brokenness, all of us are. The elder brother is just as lost as the younger, only in a different way. And so, the story is about a father with two wayward sons, whom he longed to shower with his prodigal love. Two wayward sons had been offered a seat at the table, had been invited to come home. And therein lies our hope. We’ve all missed the mark of God’s love, and yet, love is offered still, the table has been set, the feast prepared, and God longs to welcome us home.
Next week is Ash Wednesday and David, Kevin, and Karen discuss the meaning behind it and how you can prepare to keep a holy Lent. Kevin shares a new prop for 2022 and they also recap the recent youth episode and talk bananas.
This week we progress in our study of The Prodigal God by Tim Keller based on Luke 15. We have encountered two different spiritual paths in the older and younger brother’s examples. Now, we will look at the character who was left out of the story. This person provides an example that is radically different than either of the other two. This week, we discover the unique path that our true elder brother, Jesus, offers us. As we discover the way that Jesus provides for us, we will find our way home, at last.
This week we continue our series on the parable of the father who had two sons found in Luke 15. We’ll focus our attention more closely on the elder brother and his response to the gracious welcome his younger, wayward brother receives from the father. Here Jesus wants us to consider what it means to be spiritually lost. It’s clear to those listening in that little brother is lost, but Jesus suggests that both sons are far from the father’s love; both sons aren’t truly home. So, how is that the older brother remained under his father’s roof his whole life, and yet, he is just as far from home as little brother? Keller invites all of us older siblings to come to terms with this question in light of God’s prodigal love. It is, after all, God’s prodigal love that is the source of the hope and joy for which we all long.
On Sunday we continue our exploration of the parable of the father who had two sons, paying particular attention to Luke 15:11-18, 25-29a. Here Jesus depicts the sin of both sons, not only the younger, wayward brother. Of course, the younger brother’s alienation from his father seems obvious. And yet, what Jesus hopes we’ll see is that both sons are caught in their own sin and brokenness and the elder brother is equally lost, only in a different. And so, the story is about a father who lost two sons whom he longed to shower with his prodigal love and grace. And therein lies our hope.
What happens when Kevin and Karen are replaced by their daughters on the show? Find out on this special episode of This Thing Called Church when David sits down with Anna Liz Turner and Sarah Payne. They discuss what it's like being a youth at DUMC and how they would like others to see their perspective of being a teenager and a Christian.
This week we begin our series focusing on the parable Jesus tells in Luke 15:1-3, 11-32. We’re, of course, using Tim Keller’s book, The Prodigal God, as our reference. I commend the book to you and hope you’ll read along as it really is a kind of primer on the Christian faith. So, over the next five weeks we’ll explore how in this parable, Jesus is doing so much more than merely interpreting the dynamics of an ancient family. In fact, the story helps us understand what it means to be lost and in need, what it means to be saved and made whole, and how God longs to welcome all God’s children to the feast. Of course, the parable is often referred to as the parable of the prodigal son. The word prodigal, however, doesn’t actually appear in the parable and is often misused to refer only to the younger brother. In reality, prodigal means recklessly extravagant, luxuriant, recklessly spendthrift. Which means that what Jesus is doing here is telling two very different groups of people, the Pharisees and scribes (older brothers) and the tax collectors and sinners (younger brothers), people who in many ways define humanity; he’s telling them a story about God, and how “God’s reckless, extravagant, prodigal grace is our greatest hope.”
Because of Jesus, who is the embodiment of the reign and will of God, the Kingdom is already among us, it is already here, today. Christ makes this claim in this week’s gospel (Luke 4:14-21), drawing on Isaiah 61. It’s hard to ignore and we should probably pay attention. The promise of freedom, of good news for the poor, of the ability to see as God sees, and of liberation for all who are oppressed is fulfilled, in Jesus, TODAY. And yet, there is also a distance, a gap, between what already is true and what is yet to be. The fullness of God’s Kingdom, God’s reign over all of Creation, and God’s will coming upon the earth, is both present in Christ and yet, it is also out there on the horizon, waiting to be. Our holy vocation is to follow Jesus, to draw near to him and become like him, and to be a living embodiment of Isaiah’s beautiful vision, today.
David, Kevin, and Karen are back and kick off 2022 with a new episode! On today's episode the three recap the holidays and then discuss the new churchwide book study that is starting at the end of the month. The book is called The Prodigal God and it's not too late to get a copy, join a small group, or follow along on your own. A book study is a great to start your new year!
This Sunday in worship we will read John 2: 1-11, the story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. This is one of the most well-known narratives of the Bible, to be sure. And because it's such a familiar story, perhaps we've never asked ourselves: Why would Jesus do such an odd thing? We're accustomed to reading about Jesus' healings and other miraculous deeds, but turning water into wine seems like a very different kind of miracle, does it not? Perhaps there's something deeper and more significant going on that John, the gospel writer, wants us to discover. We hope you can join us Sunday morning.
This week we gather and hear the story of Jesus’ baptism. Like Jesus, who was claimed at his baptism as God’s beloved Son, in baptism, we too have been claimed by God. The most basic truth about who we are comes not from what we have, or what we do, or even what we’ve failed to do, but our truest and most basic identity comes from whose we are. Like Jesus we are God’s own beloved sons and daughters. No matter what identity we have claimed for ourselves, no matter the identity others have tried to impose upon us, no matter the label we have earned from our good choices or our worst mistakes, we are first and foremost God’s beloved. In thinking about making a new beginning, in a New Year – we begin at the font, remembering that baptism gives us a new story. We are God’s beloved. Friends this is what it means to be baptized into Christ. Baptism is about finding our identity, finding out who we are, in Jesus Christ.
On Sunday we will hear the story of the Magi from Matthew’s gospel. It’s often read around January 6th, or a holy day, that in Eastern Christianity, rivals Christmas as a day of celebration and significance. In some traditions it is known as Three Kings Day. We have it on our calendars as the Feast of the Epiphany. The word epiphany simply means appearing or appearance, or to make manifest, or to reveal. So, this particular day and season of the Christian year is the time when the Church recalls the “concrete, physical, in the flesh way in which Jesus reveals God to all of humanity.” Jesus is an epiphany, a manifestation, a revelation of the glory of God. Jesus is the Light of God shining in the darkness – a light so bright the darkness cannot overcome it, a glorious light that draws Wise Men and others to the brightness of its dawn. The season of Epiphany asks us then to consider how God has revealed God’s self, made God’s self known to us in Jesus, and what that revelation, that manifestation means for us as his followers and friends? Having seen the glorious presence of God in Christ, having seen the light of God’s new day dawning on the horizon, how are we called to live differently? How are we called now to be instruments of the revelation of God, instruments of the light who make the love and light of Christ manifest in the world?
For the last episode of the year, David, Kevin, and Karen discuss the meaning of incarnation, if Jesus was really human, and why it is so important to understand. Kevin features his special holiday apparel which also ties into what "national day" it is. Thank you to everyone who has watched and supported us this year. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!
While the world is scrambling around trying to buy happiness, Mary, the favored one of God, sings. She sings not a song of sentimental Christmas happiness, but a song of joy, because she expects that things will be different, things will change through the birth of her son. Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55) is the radical proclamation that, in her son, the world is forever changed, turned upside down. She boldly sings of what God has done, especially for people we don’t normally think of as being blessed. Mary sings for the lowly, the dispossessed, the hungry and the poor, people like her, claiming that in her womb grows the one who will upend the kingdoms of this world and all their posturing and pretension. Mary’s song announces that Jesus, God in the flesh, is bread for the hungry, water for the thirsty, liberation for the oppressed, healing for the broken-hearted, and a Way in the wilderness for the lost. Our calling is to learn the tune and sing along.
Our lives are pointing to something or to someone. We are telling a story by the way we live. And make no mistake about it, our neighbors are listening to what the Church says, and are watching what the Church does. Right or wrong, fair or unfair, they are drawing conclusions about the truthfulness and the usefulness of the gospel based upon what they see and hear in us. They’re drawing conclusions about Jesus, based upon the lives of Jesus’ people. This Sunday we encounter Zechariah who, with his wife Elizabeth, had spent his whole life waiting for the salvation of Israel. Their son, John, would be the one to announce and point to the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promised coming of God’s peace and light. Advent reminds us that our vocation is both to wait and prepare like Zechariah and Elizabeth and then to live in a way that our lives point to Jesus and the hope, peace, joy, and love he brings.
David, Kevin, and Karen recap their Thanksgivings, and Karen gifts David another cup for his coffee cup collection. We are now in the season of Advent and the three discuss preparing for this special time and what it means. David and Kevin also give some tips on how to keep a holy Advent and not be caught up in the busyness and stress of the holiday.
On Sunday, we enter the season of Advent, or the Church’s four-week-long season of preparation for our celebration of the birth of Jesus. We’ll begin the season exploring a passage from the prophet Jeremiah who, in the face of devastation, imagines an alternative reality: the restoration of Israel, the practice of justice and righteousness, and the flourishing of life in the land that God has promised. Not because of any strength or wisdom or intelligence that Jeremiah possesses, but because, even if he doesn’t know when or how God will act, Jeremiah trusts in the goodness and the faithfulness of God. Advent is about learning how to live with hope when there seems to be a great chasm or gap between what is and what we wish could be. It’s about living each and every day trusting that God will finish what God has started – even if we can’t see when or how. The good news of Christmas, the good news for which we watch, and wait, and prepare, is that Jesus, Mary’s son, is the righteousness of God in the flesh. He is our healing and salvation.
This Sunday, November 21, we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. This Sunday marks the bridge between ordinary time after Pentecost and the beginning of Advent that starts the new church year. This Sunday’s purpose is to celebrate the reign of Christ as King. This service will use scripture and song to offer a worshipful reflection on the fulfillment that Christ brings to the reign of God. Our scripture for the day will be Psalm 93, which is called an “enthroned” or “royal” Psalm. It was composed to be set to music and sung within worship liturgy as it proclaimed “The Lord is King.” This Psalm highlights God’s reign from the very foundation of the world and points us to the Messianic age that brings fulfillment of the reign of God, as the whole world recognizes that Christ is King.
Sunday is Christ the King Sunday and David, Kevin, and Karen discuss its meaning as well as its significance. Kevin brings something for show and tell which helps explain the discussion around the liturgy calendar and how the church calendar year works.
In this week’s reading from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and his disciples are in the Temple in Jerusalem. The disciples took all of what they could see before them, the grand and ornate Temple complex, as a sign and symbol of the presence of God’s Kingdom – a Kingdom they believed would be grand and powerful – much like the Kingdoms we build. But Jesus was unimpressed saying, “Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” Jesus is not anti-building per se. Rather, he understands and wants us to remember that our facilities, our programs, our ministries, all the institutional stuff of Church, they are a means to an end and never the end itself. The signs of the Kingdom Jesus is looking for are not grand buildings or flashy programs but lives transformed by love. Jesus calls you and me to follow him closely and to be living signs that point to God’s Kingdom of love, righteousness, and peace.
This week we will be discussing missions. We will reflect on Psalm 127, a theology of missions, how our church lives out missions, next steps for missions, and where God may be calling us to serve. Missions is part of the framework of our church and this Sunday we will reflect on how we live out missions and where we are going.
David, Kevin, and Karen start with a conversation about Halloween candy and Karen shares how much candy people purchase and consume. They move on to discuss this past Sunday's All Saints' worship service. Kevin talks about what goes into the beautiful music that was performed by the choirs and orchestra and David explains the meaning behind All Saints' and why we celebrate it and the differences between All Hallows, All Saints', and All Souls.
Completing our sermon series last week on The Five Practices of Fruitful Living, we now return this Sunday to the Revised Common Lectionary, looking specifically at Mark 10:46-52; a familiar and beloved story to many readers of the Bible. Jesus' years of ministry are drawing to a close as he and his disciples begin leaving Jericho, making their way to Jesus' last stop in Jerusalem. But before they can depart Jericho, a beggar named Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, seeking healing of his blindness. This would be Jesus' final healing in Mark's gospel, as he restores the blind man's sight. But we will hear on Sunday that Bartimaeus wasn't the only one who regained vision that day. Hymn writer Clara H. Scott gives us wonderful words to pray as we prepare for worship this Sunday: Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of truth thou hast for me...Open my eyes illumine me, Spirit divine. Amen.
Today may be the oddest National Day "item" as David, Kevin, and Karen get off track on that discussion. "The sacraments" are the real topic for today's episode and David and Kevin do an extraordinary job of explaining why baptism and communion are significant and what they mean on a deeper level. They also share some comical stories of baptisms gone awry. David gives a brief highlight of the Lands of Bible Cruise he will be co-leading next year which is open to everyone to join and Kevin gives a preview of what the upcoming All Saints' worship service will sound like.
We’ve come to the final week in our series on Bishop Robert Shnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Living. Radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity represent a wholistic way of life, a way of experiencing God’s love, and living a life that matters, a life of meaning and purpose that makes a difference in the world. This week we’ll focus on John 15:1-11 and how abiding in Christ, through the practices, leads to fruitful living.
This Sunday we’ll explore extravagant generosity or the fifth practice in our series on Five Practices of Fruitful Living. Bishop Robert Schnase defines extravagant generosity as “…our un-selfish willingness to share and give from all of our resources in a way that exceeds all expectations. Extravagant generosity describes lavish sharing, sacrifice, and giving in service to God and our neighbor.” Being extravagantly generous people and an extravagantly generous church is one of the ways we are the body of Christ in and for our community. The truth about us is that we have a deep-seated need to be generous, because, we are made in God’s image and God is generous. In fact, all of Creation, all there is, ever was, and ever will be is the product of the overflow of the extravagant love that exists within the community of the Trinity. Generosity is a part of the fabric of Creation. We’ll focus our time on John 3:11-17 and the invitation to mirror the generosity of God through the offering of all that we have and all that we are in response to the gift of God’s love poured out for us in Christ.
David, Kevin, and Karen record in-person in a new location! During the weekend recap, learn how Kevin saved the day during the Fernando Ortega concert. The topic for this episode is The Way of Salvation. David and Kevin break down what it means, how is it that God saves us, and how can we continue working on salvation.
As we move along in our Church-Wide Study on Bishop Schnase’s Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, this week we will be looking at the fourth practice: Risk Taking Mission and Service. We will learn from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16 verses 24-27, what it really means to be a disciple. Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world , yet forfeit their soul?” This scripture lesson challenges us to move beyond a tentative commitment, as we reconsider our loyalties. It calls us to make a commitment that requires a sacrifice. It reminds us that sacrificing for the Lord is what it means to be a disciple. When we take this call to discipleship seriously, we begin to follow Christ in a way that can transform the world around us!
An encounter with God in worship is a foretaste of a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. Cultivating a mature life in Christ requires more than weekly worship. It involves our faithful attention to the means of grace, or staying in love with God by setting aside regular and intentional time for listening to God in prayer, for the study of Scripture, for fellowship and holy conversation in community, and for learning from those who are wiser than us in the faith. This is intentional faith development. St. Augustine observed, “O God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” If we are to still the restlessness in our hearts, know and love God more deeply, and become our true and best God-given self then we must live with an openness and receptivity to receive what God longs to give. On Sunday we’ll focus on Romans 12:1-2 and Acts 2:42 and consider how we lean more fully into the life that is life through the practice of intentional faith development.
On this special episode of This Thing Called Church, David, Kevin, and Karen are together in-person and recorded the show in front of the DUMC PrimeTimers audience! They answered a wide range of questions submitted from the audience from how did they meet their spouses, where did they go to college, and is there purgatory, to taking the Bible too literally, Methodist theology, and an update on the Way Forward. As always there are some of the "finer moments" (bloopers) at the end of the episode.
On Sunday we continue exploring five practices that shape and define a faithful and fruitful life. Last week we explored the practice of radical hospitality, of welcoming God’s love into our hearts and lives recognizing that the most basic truth about us is that we are first, finally, and forever loved by God – and then extending God’s love and radical welcome to every person we meet. This week we turn our attention to the practice of passionate worship. As Bishop Schnase observes, “worship involves setting aside time to focus on God and God’s will rather than our own agendas, to receive God’s word rather than merely offering our opinion. In worship we offer ourselves anew to God’s purposes rather than trying to fit God neatly into our own goals….” Worship reconfigures our interior life and aligns us with the life of Christ. It is the way we orient ourselves or are re-oriented toward God. Using Isaiah 6:1-8 we’ll consider how all of life can become an act of passionate worship.
This week we begin our church-wide study and a series of sermons focusing on Bishop Robert Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Living. Bishop Schnase asks, “How do we cultivate lives that are abundant, fruitful, purposeful, and deep? What are the commitments…and practices that open us to God’s transforming grace, and that help us discover the difference God intends for us to make in the world? And how do we live the fruitful flourishing life of a follower of Christ?” We lean into this flourishing by an intentional commitment to five practices that are central to fruitful living - radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith-development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. Like an artist or athlete who must practice their craft in order to develop the muscle memory that enables them to flourish, these five practices…are essential to growth in Christ and to the deepening of the spiritual life. The repetition and deepening of these practices, like Wesley’s means of grace, enables us to cooperate with God in our own growth and maturation in Christ. Regular, ongoing, and intentional practice of the practices opens our hearts – to God, to others, to a life that matters, a life rich with meaning, relationship, and contribution. In short, the practices help us flourish.” With this in mind, we begin by focusing our attention on Luke 15:11-32 and the practice of Radical Hospitality.
David, Kevin, and Karen give an overview of the book "Five Practices of Fruitful Living" by Robert Schnase for our upcoming church-wide book study and also discuss ways you can participate. They also have conversations about officiating weddings and parenting moments.
Christianity is an embodied faith, a way of life, a way of living and being in the world that reflects the love and mercy of God. Jesus calls us to come and follow, to live and love like him. With that in mind James reminds us that “faith without works” is dead. Now to be clear, salvation is God’s gift to us. Our works or acts of service cannot and do not earn us God’s love and acceptance. That said, it is not enough to simply confess “I love and belong to Christ” if that confession isn’t obvious in our way of life. As Eugene Peterson puts it, “God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense.”
Now that we have wrapped up our summer sermon series from the book of Ephesians, we continue journeying through our lectionary texts, with a mini- series, from the book of James. This mini-series will carry us through until we begin our Church-Wide Sermon Series on The Five Practices of Fruitful Living!
This week’s message will focus on James 1: verses 2-8 and 16-18. This is a rich passage that speaks to the trials and temptations that we all experience in the Christian life that test our faith. This passage offers encouragement to persevere in light of these trails, as we seek wisdom from God. It reminds us that when we ask for God’s help, we must believe and not doubt. Instead, in light of our doubts, and in light of our fears, we should have faith, as we trust in our unchanging God.
The Lord's Prayer is the topic for today's discussion. It's a prayer the majority of us know by heart, but David, Kevin, and Karen dig deeper into where it came from, the meaning behind it, and why you should pray it every day.
This Sunday we will conclude our journey through the letter of Ephesians, focusing our attention on selected verses from chapter six. Here Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against enemies of “blood and flesh.” Contrary to the divisive and dehumanizing rhetoric and behavior that occupies too much of our common life, we’re not at war with or seeking to defeat or destroy those individuals with whom we disagree or are in conflict. Rather, our struggle is with what Paul often terms the “principalities and powers”. The powers are known by various names - racism, toxic politics, sexism, unjust economies, and more. Paul affirms that Christ has defeated and is Lord of the powers. As such we have been set free to live differently. Part of this different way of living entails putting on the armor or truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and God’s word, and naming and resisting the “rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers” that seek to dominate and control individuals, institutions, and systems. This is, in part, what it means to be the body of Christ in the world.
In writing to the Church in Ephesus, Paul reminds us that our calling is not to superficial faith, casual Christianity, or cheap grace. Our calling is to imitate God, to be holy. What Paul hopes we’ll see is that the resurrection means that God’s new world has come, that there is a better way to be human, and that we are invited to take part in it. As such Paul urges us to wake from our spiritual slumber and live as children of light. In short, God wants nothing less than to make us new, set us free, and to give us life and life abundant. Why would we ever settle for anything less?
After a short summer break from recording, David, Kevin, and Karen are back together again and recap what has been happening lately. Kevin and Karen give David a special mug to add to his collection. Recapping the Youth Choir trip that happened this summer creates a conversation about keeping people engaged and connected at church and why it's important to be together in-person.
This week as we continue to reflect on the book of Ephesians, we will reflect on how this Scripture relates to our calling to go and be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. The Scripture says, “let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors” (4:25). What does speaking the truth to our neighbors mean when we respond to our faith and participate in mission work in our community? We will also reflect on speaking the truth to our neighbors as it relates to disaster response.
As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, this Sunday we will look at Ephesians 4: 1-16, where we are encouraged to “bear with one another in love and make every effort to maintain unity….” Unity in our world and country, and especially in our churches, must surely be one of the most difficult challenges we face as a people. We might even ask: Is it possible to hold on to our truths while seeking unity among those with whom we disagree? The early churches, such as the one in Ephesus, struggled with many of the same challenges we face today. Perhaps these words from Ephesians can help us navigate our current world a little better, and bring more unity among us. We hope you will join us for worship on Sunday.
In this week’s reading from Ephesians (3:1-13) Paul points to the great mystery of Christ, that “…people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of God all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.” (Eph. 3:6, The Message) Too often we view God’s love and mercy as scarce resources which must be protected and rationed so the deserving few will get their fair share. Paul and others understand that God’s mercy and love are abundant, limitless, and are offered to all. Likewise, none of us deserve the love and mercy of God, rather, it is all gift, a windfall. As such, our faithful response should involve gratitude and a desire to share the gift with others.
In this week’s reading from Ephesians (2:11-22), Paul invites us to think about the walls we build - the dividing wall of our sin that separates us from the God, the walls we erect that divide us from one another, and the walls that barricade our hearts, keeping us from our true and best self. Walls have their place, they support the roofs of our offices, schools, and homes, but then they also can do great harm. So, to a people who have a tendency to build walls, Paul proclaims that in Jesus, God is about the business of tearing down the walls of hostility and division and overcoming any distance, any separation, that undermines the coming of God’s Kingdom.
It is easy to be overwhelmed and disheartened by the challenges facing the church and our world. We may even feel ill-equipped or powerless to make much of difference. The earliest Christians surely knew what this was like. This week we begin a seven-week series focusing on Paul’s letter to the first Christians living in Ephesus. Ephesians is a wonderful letter in which Paul encourages the early church to not lose heart, to remain focused on Christ, and to lean into their giftedness as the body of Christ. In this week’s reading Paul prays for the Church, reminding us that the power of God that raised Christ from the dead is working among us. Knowing that gives us hope to face the future with hope and confidence.
David, Kevin, and Karen recap their Fourth of July weekends, talk about space travel, and then discuss some of the differences and similarities between Methodists and other religions. These are the books that Kevin and David referenced during the conversation; Living as United Methodist Christians, by Andy and Sally Langford Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt, by F. Belton Joyner Why I Am a United Methodist, by William Willimon
Sunday is Independence Day, a day we celebrate freedom. As we gather for worship we will encounter a section from Paul’s magnum opus, the Epistle to the Romans. There Paul acknowledges our lack of freedom and how at times we seem prone to do the very things we know we shouldn’t, and incapable of doing the things we know we should. He then points to Christ as the source of perfect freedom. As we celebrate Independence Day we will reflect on how we at times settle for the smaller “freedom” which is little more than the tyranny of our own desires, and miss out on the larger freedom offered to us in Christ. Paradoxically, this larger freedom comes only when we let go of our lives and cling to Christ. Paul wants us to see that serving Christ, and not ourselves, is the way to perfect freedom.
Last week's theme with David and animals continues as he shares another interesting tidbit. June 28 is John Wesley's birthdate and David, Kevin, and Karen discuss the foundation of Methodism and what it means to be a disciple. Kevin also explains tying in discipleship through music and hymns.
This Sunday, June 20, is Father’s Day. This is a holiday that often gets overlooked in our Christian calendar. In honor of this day, we will be exploring a scripture passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, known as The Shema. This scripture passage calls us to hear anew the great commandments and to make living them and sharing them a part of our daily lives. This invitation highlights for us the importance of leaving a legacy of faith, through our example, our witness, and our ministry to others. This is a ministry that extends not just to our immediate family- but to the whole family of God!
In this episode, our new Youth Director, Evan Nester, joins David, Kevin, and Karen. Learn more about Evan and what fun and exciting plans he and Brittany are working on for our Youth Ministry. Also, find out what unique animal David ate for dinner once while on a Mission Trip.
In Christ we are a new creation and are granted a shared in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. That is, as friends of Christ we participate in God’s work of reconciling all things, of healing division, and making all things new. This transformation involves a new perspective, a new lens through which we view the world. Being a new creation means, that we come to see the world through the eyes of Christ. We see ourselves and our neighbors, friends and enemies alike, as Christ sees us – with the eyes of Christ’s compassion, mercy, and grace. It is not by our effort that this happens, but rather by the power of God’s love.
This week is Trinity Sunday. We will discuss the Triune God and how we encounter the Trinity within Scripture and in our lives. We will look together at some of our theological understandings of our one God in three persons. As you prepare for worship this Sunday, we invite you to reflect on how you see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit present in your life.
Kevin and Karen are back along with our new Pastor, Rev. David Hockett! In this second episode, Kevin graduates again, the three discuss Sunday's service with Confirmation, and then define/explain the Trinity. David shares what our on-campus Covid guidelines will look like starting on June 1.
This week we gather to celebrate Pentecost and the outpouring of the Spirit upon the Church. Pentecost reminds us that we are not alone; God is with us in all times and places. As we celebrate this holy day in the life of the Church, we also gather to celebrate the confirmation of 33 DUMC youth. This is a significant day for our youth as they will affirm for themselves the faith into which they were baptized. I have reminded them that confirmation is not the end of the journey, but one more significant step on a lifelong adventure of being friends of Christ. I am grateful for Rev. Dianne Lawhorn and Brittany Viehmann and their excellent team of ministry servants who have led the confirmation experience. I am also grateful for our youth and their desire to follow Christ. We are a better church because of them.
On Sunday we observe the Ascension of the Lord, recalling that bit of the Creed where we affirm that Christ “ascended into heaven.” This does not mean that Christ has retreated to his heavenly home and we stand idly by hoping one day to follow him there. Rather, the ascension means that the risen Christ is now present everywhere, and earth and heaven “overlap and interlock”. This is why Jesus taught us to pray for God’s Kingdom or reign to come on earth as it is in heaven. It is to the hope of heaven coming on earth - of all Creation being renewed, restored, and made whole - that we, the Church, are called to bear witness to in how we live, love, and serve.
Watch (or listen) to our new Zoomcast called This Thing Called Church. Kevin and Karen are back along with our new Pastor, Rev. David Hockett! In this first episode hear about Kevin's unexpected house guest, what you can do with any extra coffee cups you have, and meet/learn more about David. Karen puts him in the "hot seat" and has him answer the "famous" eight questions.
Last Sunday, we heard from one of the letters of John where the writer encourages us to love like Jesus. In the epistle the writer reminds us that how we love others is a reflection of our love for God. In this Sunday’s gospel reading, John tells us that our ability to love like Christ loves grows out of our relationship with Christ. John suggests that when our relationship with Christ is organic, like a branch connected to the vine, we are friends of Jesus and we bear the fruit of love. God initiates a relationship with us, and yet, we must respond. So, by spending time with Christ, hanging around Christ, abiding in Christ, as John says, we take on the character of Christ and develop the capacity to love God and others well.
The word “love” appears in the Bible hundreds of time, and is one of the central themes of scripture. But we would be hard-pressed to find a more definitive analysis of God’s love than this Sunday’s passage: 1 John 4: 7-21. John tells his readers that God is the source of all love (“love is from God” and “God is love”). Therefore, our very ability to love is the result of our first being loved by God. The reality of receiving such love, says John, must mean that we can’t keep this love to ourselves. There are no boundaries to the love of God.
The late Gordon Cosby, founder of the Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, often wrote about the shape of the Christian life involving our Journey Inward, Outward, and Together. Last Sunday we reflected upon the importance of listening to Christ, the Inward Journey, as a necessary practice for faithful discipleship. Listening well shapes our doing or the mission and activity of the Church. At Davidson UMC we say that “we are called to be the Body of Christ in our community.” And before we are the Body of Christ “out there,” or the Outward Journey, we are first the Body of Christ “in here”, in the life we share Together. In this week’s reading from Ephesians, we are reminded that the Church is a gift, and it is Christ who brings us together. Our Journey Together, how we are the Body of Christ in community, mirrors for the world the hope Christ has for all of humanity.
As we begin this new season of ministry together, I invite us to return to a point of beginning in Jesus’ own ministry with his disciples. Following Jesus’ transfiguration atop the mountain, Mark tells us that Peter, James and John are instructed to “listen” to Jesus as they descend the mountain and head back into the towns and villages where Jesus will heal, teach, share meals, and point to the coming Kingdom. Before they are asked to do anything in the name of Christ, they are invited to listen. This is instructive for us, particularly given our location in a society that values activity and doing over listening and being. What might it mean for us to be a church that practices the discipline of “listening’ to Christ in all the people and places Christ comes to us?
Our Scripture for this week comes to us from John’s Gospel, Chapter 20. It’s the part in our narrative where some of the disciples encounter Jesus following the resurrection. Upon returning home and sharing the good news with the disciples who weren’t with them, Thomas says that he doesn’t believe them. He says that he won’t believe until he sees and feels the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and side. A week later Jesus comes to visit the disciples and shows Thomas his hands and side and tells him to stop doubting and believe. He tells him, “ because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This interaction highlights for us the relationship between faith and doubt and calls into question if seeing really is believing or if sometimes in our lives we are called to believe without seeing.
We enter today the most sacred hours of our Christian faith. The Paschal or Easter Triduum begins with our Holy Thursday service, remembering Jesus’ final moments with his disciples; followed by Good Friday’s solemn message of Christ’s sacrifice and death; and Holy Saturday’s time of rest and remembrance. And finally, we gather on Sunday morning for Easter, the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian year, as we give thanks for the resurrection of Jesus. Worship with us this weekend, in person or virtually. Christ is risen indeed!
This is the beginning of Holy Week. It is a time to remember the many events which took place 2000 years ago. God speaks to us today through these powerful moments in time. We continue to see them lived today. People praised Christ, people cursed him. Jesus ate with his friends, Jesus wept and was in agony. Holy Week is a week of holiness, and it’s not without suffering. Let us turn our eyes together to the One who saves us.
In the our lectionary gospel lesson for today, we find John’s version of the Gethsemane prayer, where Jesus says, “my soul is troubled.” In this moment, he considers if he should ask to be saved from this hour. He realizes that this is what He was sent for, so instead, He asks for the Father to be glorified through it. There is the fragrance of grief and sorrow here. Our Lenten journey reminds us that we grieve Jesus’ death, so that we can celebrate the joy of His resurrection. In this, we realize that sorrow actually prepares us for joy. It is through pain and sorrow that the real joy rises. Because of our deliverance, joy will get the last word in our story every time. That joy won’t be a denial of pain, but will be a victory over that pain. Our challenge is to learn to call out to God and praise Him even in the midst of our sorrows, so that He can help us to trade our sorrows in for joy.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NRSV). For many of us this verse was the first verse of Scripture that we memorized. We have seen it written on billboards and bumper stickers. On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, the lectionary offers this well known passage for us to consider as we prepare for Easter. We hope you will join us this week to reflect on how God continues to speak through these very familiar passages.
This Sunday, the third Sunday in Lent, we will look at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Corinth was a fledgling church in a wealthy trading area, so these new Christians were influenced by many philosophies that contradicted the message of Christ; thus causing problems that permeated the young church. Were the people of the Corinthian church devoted to following Jesus, or more interested in the ideologies of their culture? This was the question and the challenge Paul offered his readers. 1st Corinthians is a popular book of the New Testament, perhaps because so many readers today (especially Americans) see ourselves and our churches in many of the struggles and controversies of this epistle. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 to prepare for this Sunday.
This Sunday, the second Sunday of Lent, we will reflect on the most illuminative moment in Mark’s gospel next to the Resurrection: the Transfiguration of Jesus. On a high mountain, and with three of his most intimate disciples, Jesus becomes radiant with glory, his face and clothing shimmering with supernatural brilliance, as Moses and Elijah, two Old Testament archetypes, speak with him. Encapsulated in this brief episode is the essence of our faith, its whole point, and its final end. Let’s join our Lord atop this high mountain again this Sunday and bask with Peter, James, and John in the divine splendor.
Shane explains the reason for his unique piece of artwork in his house. Kevin and Shane answer two questions from viewers; one about praying and the other about judgement, heaven, and hell. Shane share's some parting words and Karen discusses what is next after Page - Turner.
This Sunday, having concluded our sermon series on apprenticing with Jesus, we return to the liturgical calendar of the church and will observe the first Sunday of Lent. Each year the appointed reading for this particular Sunday concerns Jesus’s flight into the desert where for forty days he underwent intense temptations orchestrated by the devil. This week we may spend some time considering just who is the Devil in biblical theology and of what role temptations consist in the interior life. This week’s reading will come from Mark 1:9-15.
It's Ash Wednesday and Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about the importance of this holy day and how to experience this time of sacrifice for Lent. They also discuss Shane's last sermon for the church wide book study, Apprenticeship With Jesus and how to live every day as an apprentice.
This Sunday we end our series on Gary Moon’s Apprenticeship with Jesus with a word of exhortation. Our text for this Sunday will come from Luke 5 as the master Jesus calls his apprentices to follow him (Luke 5:1-11). Luke’s narrative presents an outline of what it means truly to become the Lord’s apprentice. Let’s spend time reflecting for one last Sunday on the meaning of imitating our Lord, so that the lessons we have learned these last five weeks, instead of ending, will constitute for each of us a new beginning.
Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss another upcoming church holiday that has turned into commercialism, Valentine's Day. Then they dig deeper into Shane's sermon from Sunday regarding imitating Jesus on his cross and how apprenticing with Jesus also includes suffering. They answer a confirmand's question, "If God created us perfectly, why is there sin?" and give an update on events at DUMC for Ash Wednesday.
This Sunday we come to the fourth of our five sermons on Gary Moon’s Apprenticeship With Jesus. To apprentice with Jesus is to imitate the Lord’s life, to let him, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, live the fullness of his life in us. There is, then, another central component to the imitation of the Lord’s life, a component the Lord enjoins on all his followers, a component about which the apostle themselves testified in their New Testament letters. That component is the cross, sharing in the Lord’s sufferings. There is no true imitation of Jesus apart from imitating him on his cross. This Sunday let’s go all in, knowing that the crosses the Lord calls us to bear always redound to our resurrection and the experience of new life.
Did you know that there is another holiday on February 2 besides Groundhog day? Super Bowl Sunday is this week and the three briefly discuss the upcoming game. The main topic of this episode is continuing to dig deeper into the churchwide book study of Gary Moon's Apprenticeship with Jesus and Shane's sermon about the counter culture nature of Christianity. Shane and Kevin answer a Confirmand's question, Why do some people give up on God and become Atheists after having once believed?
This Sunday we continue our reflections on Gary Moon’s Apprenticeship with Jesus. We will re-emphasize another key component of apprenticing with Jesus, an implication we must embrace with all enthusiasm if we wish to assimilate our Lord’s manner of life: non-conformity to the predominant culture or what the New Testament refers to as “the world” (See Romans 12 for a glimpse at this week’s theme). Non-conformity is what sets admirers of Jesus apart from apprentices of Jesus. On Sunday let’s encourage one another on our quest to live with Jesus against the worldly grain.
Shane addresses the recent announcement about his leaving DUMC, and then Kevin, Karen, and Shane have a discussion about the current churchwide book study, Apprenticeship with Jesus, by Gary Moon. Confirmation classes have started and they answer a student's question, "is sin forgiven if the sinner did not really believe in Jesus?"
This Sunday we continue our sermon series and churchwide book study on Gary Moon’s Apprenticeship with Jesus. This week we will reflect on a fundamental principle of the Bible, a principle sprinkled throughout the book, the subject of our current study: the Imago Dei. The image of God. The Old Testament begins by affirming how God made human beings in God’s own image. Then in the New Testament Jesus bears the designation of being the true image of God (See Colossians chapter 1, one of our two readings for Sunday). What does this biblical principle regarding the Imago Dei have to do with our apprenticeship with Jesus? In a word, everything.
On this Inauguration Day, Shane, Kevin, and Karen have a guest, Mary Shea, join them. Did you know that the DUMC Chapel has a bell in the steeple? Kevin shares where the bell came from and when it was rung for the first time. The main topic the group discusses today is about the new building proposal that has been in the works for years. Mary gives an update on the progress the Building Committee has made and what the next steps are. They also share images of what the new building will look like and go over the plans for the new space.
This Sunday we begin our first sermon in our new series and churchwide book study on Gary Moon’s Apprenticeship with Jesus: Learning To Live Like The Master. We will launch the series by reflecting on the question posed by two prospective disciples to Jesus, a question which begins John’s gospel: “Master, where are you staying?” Their question captures the essence of what discipleship, a word often bandied about without much thought nowadays, would have meant in the ancient world and still does mean today. It will be a fitting introduction to the adventure, as Moon’s book suggests, awaiting us.
In typical fashion, Shane, Kevin, and Karen go down a rabbit hole of discussing old tv shows and movies and come out with a topic idea for a future episode. Shane also shares what character he dressed up as for Halloween based on a popular 80's television show. The main topic for today focuses on the events of last week at the Capitol and how the Girardian philosophy regarding the mob and scapegoat mechanism took over and how that relates to the Bible and today.
This Sunday we will commemorate, along with churches the world over, the Baptism of Jesus, which officially began the mission for which he was born at Christmas. Remembering our Lord’s baptism will also provide us a chance to remember our own baptism and to recall what happened on the day when we too entered the blessed waters and had pronounced over us the name of the Triune God. Much was at stake in that moment and it is only fitting that we renew this Sunday the good work God began in each of us.
It's the first Page - Turner episode of 2021 and Shane, Kevin, and Karen recap their Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays. Today's topic falls on Epiphany which is perfect timing to discuss the Magi and their importance to the Christmas story. Who were they? Where did they travel from? What is the significance of the gifts they brought and what can we learn from them today?
Join us this week as we continue in our journey from Christmas to Epiphany. Epiphany is the culmination of all that we’ve been anticipating during Advent, as we continue taking steps out of darkness and into light. Our biblical text for Sunday is Matthew 2:1-12 the story of the Magi’s journey to see Jesus. We will experience together the gift that the Magi received through this encounter. We will also discover who missed out on this gift. The chief priests in Herod's court had much biblical knowledge--they knew where the Messiah was to be born and here are the Magi saying that it has happened-- and they made no movement toward the manger along with the Magi. They stayed behind with Herod. What’s the lesson here? Biblical knowledge means nothing, unless it takes us on a deeper pursuit of and encounter with Jesus!
This Sunday we will enter the next chapter of the Christmas story, the reading appointed reading for Sunday, concerning the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple (Luke 2:22-40). This passage contains a host of theological themes, Old Testament connections, and several motifs regarding the mission of Christ. This week let's consider a few of them and especially Simeon's ominous prophecy, which he uttered to Mary. There is a sense of foreboding mixed in with the joys of Christmas. The gospel writers want us to notice the shadows of Christ's birth along with its marvelous light.
For the last episode of 2020 Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss Christmas shopping and New Year's resolutions. This Sunday is the final week of advent and the three discuss love. Shane explains its true meaning and that love is more than an emotion.
“Who are you?” (John 1:19). This is a question that we might hear today as people get to know one another and it is a question John is asked in the Scripture for this Sunday. This week we will explore John’s response to this question and what it means for us. As you prepare for worship, ask yourself the question: Who are you? How would you respond if someone asked you this question?
Karen tells the story about her Christmas tree and Kevin shares how the Christmas Eve service is coming together. This upcoming Sunday in Advent is Joy, and Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss what the true meaning of joy is and how to find joy during this holiday season.
This Sunday we will reencounter one of the primary figures of Advent, John the Baptist. He is a strange, enigmatic figure and yet the Church finds him and his message essential ingredients for a proper preparation for Christmas. All the gospels relate John’s preaching before they relate Jesus’s preaching. This Sunday let’s hear the gospel according to John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-8) and thereby make ourselves ready to prepare our Savior room.
After three weeks, Shane, Kevin, and Karen are back together! They catch up on what they did over the Thanksgiving holiday, talk about Christmas trees and then discuss reclaiming the real meaning of Advent. Advent is much more than only preparing for the birth of Jesus.
This Sunday marks the first Sunday of the season of Advent. Every first Sunday of Advent, the church appoints the gospel reading to be one in which Jesus goes apocalyptic. Look, our Lord will say this week, for the sun to darken, for the moon to stop giving its light, and for the stars to fall. Why this reading, why this sermon from Jesus, as we begin decking the halls with our festive ornamentation? Let’s think about it this Sunday.
Thanksgiving has been understood as a day to humbly reflect on the abundant gifts that saturate our lives. It inspires us to think about what it means to be truly thankful and to consider the impact that gratitude can have. Some have described gratitude as “ the practice of making space for appreciation.” Embracing gratitude as a practice is about acknowledging the goodness in our lives and acknowledging the source of that goodness. The Apostle Paul reveals just this kind of grateful heart in his letter to the church at Ephesus. Despite his difficult circumstances, He constantly gives credit to Christ for the work of transformation. It is obvious that giving thanks had become a way of life for Paul. Giving thanks can become a way of life for us as well. It can become a kind of oxygen that wakes us up to really living. Let’s be intentional about remembering and being thankful in this season. Especially, as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, let’s acknowledge the source of goodness in our lives, as we confess that Christ is deserving of our gratitude. Let’s celebrate the one who not only transforms us, but who can transform the world through us.
Kevin and Karen have another guest on today's show, Brittany Viehmann, who has started her job this week as the DUMC Youth Program Coordinator. Brittany shares how she and her family came to DUMC and what she is looking forward to with our youth program now and in the future.
If you grew up going to Christian camps or youth groups, you may have sung: “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning…” This Sunday in worship, we will hear Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids, which is where this little song gets its theme. Join us as we reflect upon the meaning of this story, and see that keeping oil in our lamps isn’t just a message for kids, but for Christians of all ages and stages of life. Read Matthew 25:1-13 to prepare for this Sunday’s worship.
This Sunday we will spend time reflecting on a popular parable of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew, the parable of the talents. A rich man entrusts his servants with a certain number of talents, which was a huge sum of money, and then asks for a reckoning for how they invested it. A parable with many stewardship themes, it nevertheless has a curious wrinkle in it, which says more about us than about God. Let’s think about it this Sunday.
Kevin and Karen have a special guest on today's show, DUMC member Ashley Nydish. Kevin and Karen initiate Ashley to the show by discussing fall, the holidays, and of course space. Ashley shares how Bags of Hope got started and explains how the program provides meals for students in the Lake Norman area and how you can help.
We survived Halloween, the time change, and a full moon all in the same week. Now as voting is over and as we are waiting on the results of the president-elect, Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss religion and politics and how they coexist. Click on the video link below to watch this week's episode.
This Sunday we will experience again one of the high Sundays of the year, All Saints Day. A day set aside for the commemoration of all the faithful who have died in the Lord—in particular those in our own church community who, within the last year, died in hope of eternal life in Christ—All Saints Day is a Christian pedagogy, that is, it teaches us why we exist and for whom we exist. For all the saints who from their labors rest, let us this Sunday give thanks.
DUMC's Senior Accountant, Sarah Haynes, joins Shane, Kevin, and Karen today and gives an update on our year-to-date finances and how things are looking for the end of 2020 and into 2021. They also discuss Halloween and All Saints Day and what worship will look like on November 1.
This Sunday we conclude our series on Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, reflecting on his concluding words in the 7th chapter (Matthew 7:21-29). Jesus envisions two types of hearers: the foolish who disregard his words and the wise who stake their lives on them. Jesus ends his great sermon with a choice. It belongs to us to respond.
Shane, Kevin, and Karen give some updates on what has been happening at DUMC over the last two weeks and then dig into the topic of evidence that God exists.
This Sunday in our reflections of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount we will spend time pondering the words closing out chapter 6 of Matthew's gospel: "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or wear...but seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you." Within the context of the sermon, Jesus, I think, identifies what is often the source or contributor of many of our material concerns. Let's think about it this week.
This Sunday we come to the next portion of Jesus’s sermon on the mount in which he instructs his disciples to avoid parading their good works or their generosity before the public gaze. Instead his disciples should give in secret, pray in secret, and practice their piety in secret. Why? This Sunday let’s contemplate our Lord’s instructions and understand how his is a call to freedom.
Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss the theological virtue, hope. Hope is more than just wishful thinking and being optimistic. Watch/listen to this week's episode to learn why hope is important.
This Sunday we continue our reflections on passages within Jesus’s sermon on the mount. This Sunday we will hear the Lord say, in my paraphrase, “You’ve heard it said ‘you shall not commit adultery,’ but I say to you that if you have lust for another you have committed adultery in your heart.” In a sex-obsessed, lust-laden culture like ours, our Lord’s words strike like a thunderbolt.
Parents of younger children, please know my sermon this Sunday will broach very mature matters pertaining to sex and sexuality. I strongly advise your discretion.
Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss the emotion of anger. What the Bible tells us about it and how we can be better Christians at managing it.
This Sunday our reflections on portions of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount continues. We will spend time considering perhaps his most radical teaching, a teaching so singular its shockwaves reverberate to this day. Love your enemies. Where does Christianity depart from almost every other religious tradition? Precisely here.
Shane, Kevin, and Karen share news on in-person worship resuming and what the plans are for Christmas Eve. Click on the link to also hear updates on what has been happening at DUMC with regards to nominations, Confirmation, audio/video updates, General Conference, and don't forget about the Pumpkin Patch!
This Sunday we continue our reflections on Jesus’s sermon on the mount as presented in Matthew’s gospel. This week Jesus begins issuing, as the new Moses, the Torah for his people; and yet before doing so he insists his Torah is by no means a displacing of the first Torah but is rather what the Law, the Writings, and the Prophets had anticipated all along.
This Week on Page - Turner... Can science and religion work together? Shane, Kevin and Karen discuss the similarities and differences of science and religion, and can you still be religious and fact based?
This Sunday and through October we will begin a new sermon series during which we will reflect on the great text of Matthew's gospel, the Sermon on the Mount. It is, in many ways, the great charter of the Christian life, what our Lord expects us, and even demands us, to be. This week Jesus launches into the sermon by first telling us less what we should do--Jesus seldom trafficked in moralisms--than who we are. "You are the salt of the earth," says the Lord, "and the light of the world." This Sunday let's consider it.
What does a banana, a 16th birthday and the beatitudes all have in common? It's what was discussed on this week's episode of Page-Turner!
We continue in our lectionary-based sermons this week with another gospel lesson from Matthew 18:15-20. Some find this passage offensive, with it’s hard-hitting instructions about how to handle conflict in the church. This passage is an example of how the Bible has instruction about every aspect of our lives, including our relationships with each other. It gives us a picture of what healthy relationships in the Body of Christ can look like. At the heart of this passage is a message about forgiveness and reconciliation that should not be overlooked. Reconciliation is the work that God has been up to from the very beginning, that He sent his son into the world to accomplish, and that He expects us to continue living out in the world!
Shane and Kevin answer a viewer's question regarding other religions and their follower's fate if they don't believe Jesus is the Son of God.
Karen shares her frustrations about technology and Shane gives an update on small group meetings and communion.
Last week we heard Peter making his bold profession that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter’s profession, as we discussed, is the true key, the true rock on which the Church stands today. Jesus intended to form a community of people whose lives would demonstrate that a New King sits on the throne.
This Sunday the tone shifts. After Peter makes his bold pronouncement concerning Jesus’s identity, the Lord then presents the costs of obedience to him. “You must,” the Lord says, “take up your cross and follow me.” This week let’s recall the cost of our discipleship.
What is the church? Shane, Kevin, and Karen answer this question that seems so simple, but is quite complex. Also, Karen shares some interesting 2020 online data statistics.
We continue to follow the schedule of appointed readings for each Sunday during the current closures. This Sunday we come to a climactic moment in Matthew’s gospel: Peter’s great declaration that Jesus is indeed the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20). Every generation must confront the same question Jesus poses in this lesson: Who do you say that I am? This Sunday let’s reexamine ourselves in light of this most pressing inquiry posed by our Lord.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen discuss the topic of how to discern God's will and steps to get started in doing so. Also Shane let's go of a piece of his heart. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.
This week we come to the next appointed gospel lesson for the season as we contemplate Jesus’s healing of the daughter of an anonymous Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28) It is, of all of Jesus’s healing stories, one of the strangest and, for our eyes and ears, discomforting stories in the gospels. Tucked in size this bewildering encounter, however, is, if we will dig deep enough, good news indeed.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane pitches a new reality television show series to Kevin and Karen! They discuss the results of the congregation survey, the planning that has been happening to return to church, and what/when returning to in-person worship may look like.
This Sunday we will pick up where we left off last Sunday after Jesus fed the five thousand the loaves and fishes. This week (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus sends his disciples into the boat while he spends an evening in prayer and solitude. While in the boat, a violent storm buffets the disciples’ vessel and Jesus finally comes, walking on the water. Down through the centuries, this passage has served as an object lesson for the vagaries of the Christian life. Let’s discuss a few themes contained within it this week.
This week on Page - Turner, Rev. Jim Humphries is our guest pastor! Shane, Jim, and Karen talk about Jim's first year at DUMC and what it's like being the Pastor of Congregational Care. They also answer a viewer's question about evangelism and Jim gets put in the "hot-seat" and answers the famous eight questions!
The Gospel reading for this week is the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21). This passage teaches us about the nature of God, ourselves, and our calling. We will reflect on how we react and how Jesus calls us to respond. As you prepare for worship, think about how you respond during stressful situations and come to worship to hear how Jesus invites us to respond to these situations. Rev. Brad Hinton, Pastor of Missions and Involvement will be preaching.
This week on Page - Turner, meet our new pastor of Education, Rev. Dianne Lawhorn! Dianne tells us about her past and how she got to DUMC, and how she is getting accumulated to her new position during this time. Karen shares another animal story and explains to Dianne what it's like working down at the end of the hall next to Kevin.
This Sunday we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus in Matthew. This week we will spend time reflecting on the parable of the buried treasure, the pearl of great price. How do we resonate with the main character of the story? How does the main character strike us as odd, crazy even? What is the treasure of our lives? Let’s reflect on these questions this week.
This week on Page - Turner, meet our new pastor of Missions and Involvement, Rev. Brad Hinton! Brad talks about his journey to DUMC, what he hopes to accomplish while working at DUMC and gets put in the "hot seat" at the end of the discussion to answer eight important questions.
This Sunday we remain in the great chapter of Matthew 13, a chapter filled with some of the great parables of Jesus. This Sunday we will spend some time thinking on Jesus’s parable of the wheat and the weeds. It’s a parable regarding the wrongs of the world and yet contained within it is God’s curious response to them. Let’s think about these things during our Sunday live stream.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about parables and Kevin and Shane share their favorites. Shane also answers a question, submitted from a listener, about General Conference and the possible split of the denomination. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.
In this Sunday’s gospel reading, we will hear the Parable of the Sower, one of Jesus’ most well-known and beloved parables. Jesus often spoke in parables to help his listeners get a glimpse of what God’s kingdom looks like. So, how are we enlightened by a story about a farmer sowing seeds? What can we learn about ourselves; and most importantly, what can we learn about God? Read Matthew 13: 1-23 to prepare for this Sunday.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about the Bible. It's the most widely read book, but the least understood. They discuss the basics of where it came from and then dig deeper on where to begin and how to read it.
This Sunday the appointed gospel has Jesus issuing his great words of invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Jesus here permits us in these words to peer into his own heart, letting us see who he truly is. This week let us respond to the invitation.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin, and Karen talk about forgiveness, what it is and what it means, and how to forgive. Also Shane gives an update on his car mirror and Karen answers a listener question on how she came to DUMC.
This Sunday our appointed gospel reading picks up where last week’s reading left off. After telling his disciples that they should have no fear of those who can kill the body—for there is no death in God and the fear of death should never order the followers of Jesus—Jesus advances this week true cost of following him, saying, “Whoever loves mother or father or children more than me is not worthy of my; and whoever does not take up his or her cross is not worthy of me.” This Sunday let’s rise up to the challenge, heed these words of our master, and understand that what sounds like a call to death is really a call to life.
This week on Page - Turner, Shane, Kevin and Karen are all back together! They discuss prayer - what it is, why it's important to pray daily, and some tips on how to pray. Karen also shares a story about her dog and Shane has a run in with an antelope. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.
This Sunday the appointed gospel has Jesus, encouraging his followers before they set off for mission, saying, “Do not fear those who can kill the body. Fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Hades.” This week let’s talk about fears, our current fears, and put, however we can, our fears in place. Fear is a good but only when rightly ordered. Let’s talk about how to rightly order our fears this Sunday.
This week on Page - Turner Kevin is back and Karen interviews him about his calling and what it's like being the Pastor for Music and Worship at DUMC.
This Sunday in worship we will reflect on Jesus’s words, “I am the bread of life…those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have life in them.” So scandalous and graphic were his words in the context of John 6 that most of his followers abandoned following him in this moment. Still the Lord insisted: to share in his eternal life requires that we consume him. Jesus is true food indeed. This Sunday let us hunger for him.
This week on Page - Turner Shane gives an update on reopening the church and Karen interviews Shane about his calling and what it's like being a pastor. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.
This Sunday we come to one of final great liturgical Sundays of the year until Christ the King Sunday in November: Trinity Sunday. Each year after the Sunday of Pentecost the Church designates the following Sunday as a time to reflect on the God revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus: that the true God is Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Far from an abstract doctrine best left for academics to ponder, the Church's dogma that God is Trinity has vast implications for how we understand the nature of God and for what a truly human life, "imaging" God, should be.
This week on Page - Turner we discuss Shane's statement regarding the events associated with the death of George Floyd and how we can change our ideologies; Shane also explains the traffic light analogy for returning to church
This Sunday we come to yet another great day in the Christian year: the Sunday of Pentecost. Pentecost, which means fifty days, and which in the Christian calendar concludes the great fifty days of the Easter season, commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, animating them for their mission, giving birth to the Church. This Sunday we’ll recall a few important features of the story and reflect on why we should pray for a New Pentecost today.
This week on Page - Turner we discuss deeper about Ascension Sunday, some current quarantine trends and Shane provides another update when we might be worshiping in person again. If you have a topic or question for future episodes, please contact Karen Payne.
This Sunday we will commemorate yet another high holy day of the Christian year, the Sunday of Christ’s Ascension. Let’s revisit this great moment in the life of our Lord and remind ourselves what the event truly meant to the disciples and what it truly means for us today. Because Christ has ascended into heaven, we should possess within ourselves a lively, confident hope.
This week on Page - Turner we discuss the effects quarantine has had on us, confirmation, the trend of young adults leaving the church, and answer a viewer's question on when we might be returning back to worship in person. (Please note Shane's statement regarding returning in June was before the Bishop's recommendation of postponing worshiping together in person until after June 30. We will be following the Bishop's guidelines)
The Sunday, the sixth in the Easter season, we will continue to reflect on the final words Jesus speaks to his disciples before his passion and resurrection. Last week the Lord said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." This week we will pick up where we left off. Jesus continues comforting his friends, saying in this week's lesson (John 14:15-21), "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Let's reflect on the beauty of this sentence alone and consider the relationship between love and commandment.
Join our Pastors, Shane and Kevin, and our Director of Communications, Karen Payne, as they discuss Kevin's recent accomplishment and how we are reaching out to the congregation to worship during this pandemic.
This Sunday—the fifth Sunday of the Easter season—we will reflect on the appointed passage this week from John 14:1-12. In these verses, and hours before his death, Jesus begins laying out for his disciples the sheer mystery of his divine nature. It could take weeks to explore all the marvels hidden in these sentences. We will therefore limit ourselves to considering our Lord’s glorious response to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In these words rests our own confidence in the great drama of salvation.
This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, bears the title “Shepherd Sunday.” Based on the appointed gospel lesson for the day (John 10:1-10), we will spend a few minutes focusing on Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd. In this Sunday’s lesson Jesus says is he the gate of the sheep and the guardian of the sheep who will protect his flock from the thief who comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy. We will spend a few minutes contemplating this imagery and the good news it means for us today.
Please note that this Sunday will probably be our last Sunday using our pre-recorded platform for worship. It is our every intent to resume the live stream of worship on Sunday, May the 10th. Please look for the details in the days ahead.
This week we will take a look at the appointed gospel for this Sunday from Luke 24: Jesus’s appearance to two disciples walking to the village of Emmaus. It is one of the most beloved stories in all the gospels. There is, however, important lessons contained within its winsome sentences, which I will hope to draw out this week. Have your bible ready and we will walk through the story together, pondering a few of its themes.
In our online worship service this weekend, we will look at how the disciples spent their time in the hours and days following Jesus’ emergence from the tomb. While Easter is a time of great joy and celebration for us today, those initial hours after Jesus’ resurrection brought fear and trepidation to his closest followers. We read in John’s gospel how Jesus returned to his friends to address their feelings of anxiety. How might Jesus reach us today in our own times of fear and uncertainty? Read John 20: 19-31 to prepare for this Sunday’s worship.
For the fifth Sunday of Lent, the church appoints as the gospel reading on the great tales in the Gospel of John: the raising of Lazarus in chapter 11. This Sunday I will make a few observations about this story and how it may very well be a timely word for our current situation.
This Sunday we will worship together online. The live stream will begin at 9:30am. We have, for obvious reasons, put on hiatus our Lenten sermon series on the seven deadly sins and the seven life-giving virtues. This Sunday and for the next few Sundays we will revisit the appointed readings of the week. The appointed reading for this week concerns Jesus’s healing of the blind man in John chapter 9. What we will find in this passage is a great spiritual truth and perhaps even a word of consolation for our time.
Please know I, the other pastors, and staff remain in prayer for you, your families, our church, our nation, and our world. We encourage you to take seriously the precautions advised by our local and national leaders and to care for one another in an especial way in the weeks ahead. If you need a pastor, please email us or call our pastor-on-call number.
The church down through the centuries has faced wars, pandemics, famines, threats, and fightings within and fears without. Let us, as did the saints and martyrs of old, persist in our faithfulness to Christ, looking confidently to him, and abandon ourselves to God’s providence, trusting the good he will create from the uncertainties of this time
This Sunday we will press on in our sermon series on the seven deadly sins (and the seven life-giving virtues!). This week we will discuss what may be the most misunderstood of the seven vices: Sloth. Recall once again that all the vices become vices through ongoing habits. A vice is the end result of habitual sinful acts. Once something becomes a habit, it shapes our character until we simply do it without thinking about it. We are, in many ways, the sum total of all our habits.
That's why for every vice, which comes from a bad habit, we need to oppose it through its opposite virtue, which comes from a good habit. Only good habits can offset bad habits. All good habits, of course, require effort on our part, which will help explain why sloth makes the cut as constituting such a deadly vice. This Sunday, then, we will ponder the vice of sloth and then contemplate its opposite virtue.
This Sunday we continue our study on the seven deadly sins. This week we come to the fourth capital vice on the list: Greed. Jesus has more to say about greed than any other dysfunction in the life of the soul. Yet for every vice there is, as we have seen, an opposite virtue whose graces can offset the vice's influence. There is hope and good news as always, but swimming against the tide of greed does take effort, discipline, and commitment. This week let's dig in to the vice of Greed so that we can learn how to dig out of it.
This Sunday in worship, we will continue our sermon series on the Seven Deadly Sins, looking specifically at the sin of Wrath. Everyone gets angry; even Jesus, as we will hear more about on Sunday. But what is it that makes our anger a sin before God; and is it always? And what is the remedy for our anger? How do we live in a world that is so filled with anger, hatred and division? Read Matthew 5: 21-26 and Ephesians 4: 25-32 to see how Jesus and Paul address the topic of anger, and join us Sunday to hear how you might use this Lenten season to work on your own challenges.
This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series—just before and in time for Lent, which starts on February 26, on what church tradition calls the seven deadly or capital vices. There is no one particular section in the Bible that catalogues these seven vices on a page, but the Scriptures do refer to them or (at least alludes to them) throughout: pride, envy, wrath, greed, sloth, gluttony, and lust. These seven predispositions constitute the soil from which grows all kinds of dysfunction, be it personal dysfunction, social, or spiritual.
For every one of these seven vices, however, there exist seven virtues that can, through God’s grace and our discipline, offset their influence. That means there’s hope and good news! This Sunday we’ll start things off with what Christian tradition pinpoints as the chief vice of them all, the root vice from which grows all the other vices: Pride!
Start thinking now of what you may wish to give up for Lent!
In a world that seems to becoming more fractured daily, how can the followers of the Prince of Peace be counter-cultural? Can Jesus’ disciples make any real difference in our world or is it too late? What price are we willing to pay for following the way of Jesus?This Sunday we complete our sermon series on the Beatitudes as we think about the peacemakers and those who are persecuted for their righteousness. See you in worship!
This Sunday we will come to the penultimate sermon in our series on the Beatitudes. Like last week, we will consider two more of Jesus’s sayings that describe the happy soul: Happy are the merciful, for the will obtain mercy, and happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. As I said before, Jesus speaks in the indicative mood in each of these sayings. He’s hardly prescribing steps to become merciful or pure in heart. He’s simply declaring that those possessed of a merciful, pure heart will reach happiness. To become merciful or pure in heart (or poor in spirit or anything else) is a work of the Holy Spirit within us. Nevertheless, let’s find out why mercy and purity of heart belong to the happy.
This Sunday our sermon series on the Beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew's gospel continues. We will consider two of the sayings of Jesus this week: blessed are the meek and blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Like all the beatitudes, and most of the teachings of Jesus, these sayings likewise overturn our expectations and reconfigure our vision of the world.
This week we continue our reflection on the Beatitudes of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew. This Sunday we will reflect on Jesus's second pronouncement. Blessed or "Happy" are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Once again we find a strange, counter-intuitive definition of happiness (at least according to our culture). Mourning as the road to happiness? Really? What might Jesus mean here? Why is grief a means to happiness, according to Jesus? Let's think on it this Sunday.
This Sunday we will launch a new sermon series during which we will ponder the Beatitudes of Jesus as recalled by the gospel of Matthew. Think of how our world believes we will find lasting happiness. Now consider how Jesus assures us we will find happiness (Matthew 5:1-12). This Sunday we will reflect on Jesus’s first step to happiness: Happy are the poor in spirit. What does this mean? What was Jesus’s intention behind saying it? Let’s think on these things this week.
This Sunday in worship we will continue to follow the church's worship calendar and commemorate the second high Sunday of the year (the first being last Sunday, Epiphany): The feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is the moment where it all began for our Lord (at least concerning his ministry): his baptism in the Jordan River. What went under those waters was the Son of God. What arose from those waters was the Son of God in mission, empowered as he was to preach the imminence of the kingdom of God. Patterned on his baptism, we too will get a chance to recall and to reaffirm the moment when the journey of faith began for us. Baptism is the door of the Christian life. Let's remember why we passed through it this Sunday.
This Sunday we will follow the traditional liturgical cycle and observe the last day of the Christmas season, Epiphany Sunday. Every year on Epiphany the lectionary cycle has us revisit the story of those enigmatic stargazers from the East, the Magi, commonly referred to as the wise men. This Sunday let’s see what other lessons they can teach us in the new year awaiting us.
This service has its roots in late 19th century England. It has been made famous by the choir of King's College, Cambridge, who has sung this service every Christmas Eve since 1918. The music changes every year, but the readings remain the same. The readings tell us the story of God's plan for salvation for us beginning with Adam and Eve and continuing until the coming of Christ. It is our hope that you will find the joy of Christmas within your hearts as we lead the familiar carols of the season as well as our anthems.
This Sunday we will end our sermon series on the central figure of Advent next to Jesus, Mary his mother. This week will conclude things with a stroll through her great song of victory traditionally called the Magnificat. Subversive? Yes! Nevertheless, it remains fraught with good news, previewing as it does what Jesus will make his ministry about. Reflect on it this weekend in preparation for Sunday.
This Sunday we will continue our sermon series on Mary the Mother of Jesus as Luke’s gospel presents her. Last week we reflected on the story of the Annunciation, that is, the Announcement by the angel Gabriel that Mary, filled with grace, would be the mother of the Lord. This Sunday we will come to Act Two: Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45), the latter being the mother of John the Baptist, the one whose preaching would prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. On the one hand, it reads like a simple story. Yet upon closer examination it has a remarkable outline Luke’s original audience would have detected. Let’s think about it this Sunday.
This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series on the central figure—next to our Lord—of the Advent season: Mary the Mother of Jesus. We will walk through the biblical account of Mary as Luke’s gospel presents her in his opening chapters, starting first with the Annunciation (this Sunday), then with the Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (the next week), and then, finally, we will conclude our study with Mary’s song of victory better known as the Magnificat. You can study all these passages by perusing Luke 1, beginning with verse 26.
Allow me here to offer a brief word about Advent too. Whereas our culture tends to think of Advent as a fancy word for Christmas, Advent in Christian tradition is in fact a season of preparation, self-examination, and yes, even repentance. Are we really prepared for the return of the Lord? If Jesus returned today, for example, would you feel ready to meet him? Think of Advent, then, as a miniature Lent, a brief time of discipline, a clearing of the soul-clutter, before the celebrations of Christmas begin. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, a time of fasting before the feast. You will see that classic understanding reflected over the next few Sundays in our worship.
In worship this Sunday we celebrate the final Sunday of the Christian year, which is called Christ the King Sunday. As we fill the chancel area with our Harvest Procession bags, we’ll be thinking about the signs of the kingdom that are all around us every day. The text, Luke 23: 33-43, is one that we hear most often on Good Friday. As you prepare for worship, ponder what the text says about the Christ the King and how his kingdom is already here.
This week we end our series on the parables of Jesus unique to Luke’s gospel. This Sunday we will revisit what we know—and even pop culture knows—as the parable of the Good Samaritan. Long thought to be a parable of do-gooding and example-setting, let’s try to reframe some of this story and see it from another vantage point. We might find it’s really the story of our salvation.
This Sunday we resume our sermon series on the parables of Jesus unique to Luke's Gospel. This week Jesus spins a yarn about a man who experienced, in ancient terms, a hugely profitable year and then things, especially the man's character, degenerated from there. "You fool," the voice of the Lord says in response. What made the man foolish in Jesus's reading? What's the good news of this great parable? Let's consider it this Sunday.
One more thing: Our Commit. Give. Grow. campaign culminates this week in worship. Please bring your completed pledge card to worship. Join me as we commit together to be the generous disciples Jesus called us to be.
This Sunday we come to one of the highest days in the Christian year. All Saints Sunday is a day of poetry more than prose as we consider our calling as Christians and commemorate those members of DUMC who have entered the church triumphant since last year. Come this Sunday giving thanks for the saints in your life who have pointed you in the direction of heaven, the people whom you still love but see no more. Each week we profess we believe in the communion of saints. What a gift to know all the saints we have known in life still remain, through the bond of the Holy Spirit, in fellowship with us.
This week we continue our sermon series on the parables of Jesus found only in the Gospel of Luke. This week we will visit the story Jesus told regarding two people who went to church one Sabbath morning, the first an upstanding and moral member of religious society, the second a downright scoundrel (Luke 18:9-14). The zinger? The scoundrel went home a better friend of God.
Let’s be very careful of reading this parable without difficulty or controversy. For this parable has traps embedded all over the place. It’ll be our (hard) task this Sunday to avoid falling into one or all of them.
Professing faith is a lifelong response to the call of God, gift of grace and inclusion in the church as the body of Christ and witness to the coming kingdom of God. But, what is faith? * Faith is the basic orientation and commitment of our whole being - a matter of heart and soul. * Faith is grounding our lives in the living God as revealed especially in Jesus Christ. It's both a gift we receive within the Christian community and a choice we make. * Faith is trusting in God and relying on God as the source and destiny of our lives. * Faith is believing in God, giving God our devoted loyalty and allegiance. * Faith is following Jesus, answering the call to be his disciples in the world. * Faith is hoping for God's future, leaning into the coming kingdom that God has promised. Read and reflect on the Parable of the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8. After telling his disciples this story, Jesus asks, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8) Will he?
This Sunday in worship we will start a new sermon series in which we will focus each week—aside from All Saints Sunday--on a parable of Jesus found only in Luke’s gospel. This week we will examine the harrowing (Lucan) parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Jesus pulls no punches with this one. What is its point? What is the good news? This Sunday let’s reflect on it together and hear what the Lord wishes to say.
This weekend in worship we celebrate World Communion Sunday. Christian unity, symbolized through the act of Communion, is the focal point of World Communion Sunday.
The day was founded by a Presbyterian pastor in 1933. The concept spread slowly, but during WWII the spirit of the day caught hold as people were trying to hold the world together. It emphasized that we are one in the Spirit. As you prepare for worship, please read Psalm 23 and John 10:1-10. These texts tell us about the Lord as a Good Shepherd and how relates to World Communion Sunday.
This Sunday we will conclude our quick tour through the book of Genesis by reflecting on the longest story in Genesis’s 50 chapters: the story of Joseph, youngest and favorite son of the patriarch Jacob, whose adventurous tale rivals any yarn spun today.
Left for dead by his envious brothers, sent into Egypt where he remained a prisoner until circumstances enabled him to become the right hand man of Pharaoh, meeting his brothers again: there’s more to this rollicking story than our time together will permit us to explore. We will consider just a few angles, taking away the truths these chapters still convey about our life together with God. I encourage you to read Genesis 37-50 for a complete perspective.
This Sunday we continue our series on a few of the stories of the book of Genesis. This week we will hear the story of someone who, at long last, responds in Genesis to the voice of God in the right and proper way: Abram, who would later become Abraham. It is from his radical response to God that Abram would become designated the father of all those who respond with a similar act of faith. What lessons can we derive from Abram's call? This Sunday let's consider the truths we can derive from our primary morning lesson. You may read Genesis 12:1-9 in preparation.
This Sunday we continue our exploration of a few of the foundational stories of the book of Genesis, arriving this week at one of the strangest passages in the book itself: the episode of the Tower of Babel in (chapter 11).
Human beings unite to build one common city with one common language using one common technology, and then God, sensing the danger in the project, foils their plans by scattering humanity into a plurality of languages. Why? What does the enigmatic story want to teach us? Let's think on it this Sunday
This Sunday we continue our brief tour during September through the book of Genesis, looking at a few of the memorable or perhaps foundational stories of the opening book of the Torah. Last week we revisited the fall of Adam and Eve. This week we move to the sixth chapter, which contains the infamous story of Noah and his Ark. There is in the character of Noah, and in the story itself, great truths worthy of imitation; and yet there are also, according to ancient rabbinic Judaism, other truths lying well beneath the surface of the text also worthy of our imitation. Noah, according to the rabbis, leads at once by great and by questionable example. He's a man of great virtue and of great flaws. This Sunday let's consider what the great minds of Jewish tradition meant.
The youth have gone back to school and we will go back to the basics. For the month of September we will begin a new sermon series "Back to the Basics" during which we will explore a few of the fundamental stories of the book of Genesis, the stories you would have learned, perhaps, in Sunday school as a child. Let's hear these stories again as if for the first time.
This Sunday we go back to the garden of Eden and revisit the moment humanity rebelled against its creator, the story Christianity often refers to as The Fall. The serpent tempts Adam and Eve with a question "Did God say?" and it all goes downhill from there. And yet tragic as this moment is, it is also paradoxically the origin of our greatest gift. Check out Genesis 3:1-21 in preparation for Sunday.
When we hear the words “hospital” or “hospice,” we envision places that offer tremendous care, compassion, and healing for others. Chances are, we may not see “hospitality” in quite the same way, though all three words have the same origin. The Bible urges us to rethink our definition of hospitality beyond just offering a friendly smile or handshake to others. Biblical hospitality is rooted in genuine compassion (and even healing) for the stranger, for we see God’s image in their eyes.
As we complete our sermon series this Sunday on “Biblical Hospitality,” we will see how Jesus himself addresses the issue. Jesus will help us see that the Old Testament commandment to be hospitable to the stranger is a personal invitation from God, with eternal consequences. To prepare for worship this Sunday, please read Matthew 25.
This week we continue our August sermon series on the biblical virtue of hospitality. As a virtue, hospitality is the fruit of discipline, a discipline formed by a set of habits until those habits become second nature. It takes effort and courage to exercise biblical hospitality. In contrast to our domesticated, sentimental associations, biblical hospitality belongs to those who risk opening up their lives to the presence of those unlike them.
Abraham, as we saw last week, the first model of biblical hospitality, took the risk of opening his home to three unexpected visitors right after establishing the Jewish covenant. The first act of the new covenant was an act of radical hospitality, and it was through Abraham's willingness to open himself up to the presence of strangers that he and Sarah received the promise of a firstborn son.
This Sunday we will reflect on one of the most peculiar commandments in the Old Testament: "Love the stranger...for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt." It's a commandment with profound implications for the people of God. Let's think about why.
This Sunday we continue our study of the biblical concept of hospitality, the purpose of which, we hope to discover, is a far cry from our contemporary notions of the same concept.
This week we will explore a passage that sets the foundation of this biblical virtue for the rest of the Bible, the story being Abraham's welcome of the three guests who visited him unannounced in Genesis 18.
There is, of course, a surface reading of the passage, and then there is the ancient rabbinical reading of this passage, the latter being far more provocative and instructive than the former. Let's therefore take seriously what our Scriptures and our Tradition have to say about hospitality, why it matters, and why we need to recover it.
(And as preparatory exercise, consider reading Genesis 17 and 19, which time and space will prohibit us from hearing on Sunday. The placement of our story in Genesis 18 is as instructive as the story itself).
When is the last time you received a really beautiful invitation? What did it look like? Who was it from? What were you expected to wear? What were you expected to bring? This weekend we begin our August sermon series on Hospitality. Hospitality always begins with an invitation, but maybe not the type of invitation we expect. You can read more in Luke 14: 1, 7-14. This is your invitation: Come, Worship, and Be Filled by our Gracious Host. You Are Invited!
It is said that we only get one chance to make a first impression. This Sunday, as we finish up our sermon series on the subject of "Sabbath," we will see how Jesus chose to begin his public ministry in Nazareth, how his words give us a good first impression for the type of Lord he will be, and the radical kingdom he ushers upon the earth. Sabbath is a key component of this kingdom. Have you ever thought of Sabbath as radical? Read Leviticus 25 and Luke 4 to prepare for worship this Sunday
This Sunday our sermon series on the Sabbath continues. This weekend we will reflect on one of the earliest healing stories in the ministry of Jesus, which occurs, according to Mark, on the Sabbath day. That Jesus healed on the Sabbath was a major source of conflict among the most devoted practitioners of Torah. In our passage this Sunday we see Jesus healing a man with a withered hand, doing so to the chagrin of the religious authorities in attendance at the local synagogue. There is, I think, something symbolic happening in this story. Perhaps we can think of this scene almost as a parable on the nature of the Christian life itself, a nature to which the Sabbath points us.
9 to 5. 996. 24/7. What is your pattern of work? How we work also determines how we rest. This Sunday in worship we continue our sermon series on Sabbath as we examine our patterns of work and rest more closely. Who or what is driving our work in the 21st century? Are we trying to make bricks without straw? Is resting just another word for laziness? And for those of us who are retired, there’s an added challenge for you as you seek to make Sabbath a unique weekly experience. You can prepare for worship by reading Exodus 5 and Exodus 16.
Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, and with so many families in the church planning, anticipating, or taking time away from the daily grind, vacationing, we thought it might be only appropriate to think during July about God's own design for our rest: The Sabbath. Lo and behold, it's still a commandment, and yet it may be the one most often broken by us (and in some cases with boasting!). This Sunday will we begin our Sabbath-themed July by beginning at the beginning: Genesis 1. Let's reflect once again on this rich chapter and ask ourselves what it still teaches us about our purpose within the unfolding drama of God's creation.
This Sunday, three Sundays removed from the Sunday of Pentecost, the day on which the Holy Spirit gave birth to the church, we will reflect, in keeping with the theme of the Holy Spirit, on a few verses from Paul's letter to the Galatians (chapter 5). Here Paul juxtaposes two conditions, two lifestyles: The first is a life lived according to the passions of the flesh; the other is a life lived according to the power of the Holy Spirit. The former brings death, the other brings life. Paul then catalogues the sure signs of a Spirit-filled life, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday let's simply run through these signs of the maturing disciple and check our vitals.
The Father sent the Son into the world and then the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, sent the church into the world.
On the Sunday following Pentecost, the church encourages us each year to pause in mystic contemplation. Now that Spirit of Jesus the Son burns with a fire glorifying the Father, it is only fitting to ask, "Just who is this God whom Jesus has revealed?" God, we discover, is truly the Mystery of mysteries, the One who eludes our reductionistic attempts to dumb Him down. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the great One in Three. Perhaps this Sunday, Trinity Sunday, God can grant us no better gift than to be flummoxed by the sheer incomprehensibility of the true God worthy of all praise, God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.
This Sunday we end our sermon series on the book of Acts almost at the beginning, the day that started it all for the disciples and their bold witness to the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah: Pentecost. The fire of heaven blew through the gathering, Luke recounts, emboldening the disciples to continue what King Jesus had only begun. Let's think through this Sunday just what the gift of the Holy Spirit was and is for, according to our text from Acts 2. The Holy Spirit has come upon all those baptized in Christ, but why and for what purpose?
This Sunday we come to part five of our six part journey through the book of Acts. This week we will reflect on the most critical interpretive moment in the church's early life, a moment without which none of us, unless my reader happens to be Jewish, would be followers of Israel's Messiah, Jesus. Acts 10 presents the moment when the plot thickened for the Jewish apostles, all of whom devoted themselves to the observance of the purity laws of the Torah. Peter finds himself summoned by the Spirit of God to the home of a Gentile, a non-Jew, even to eat with him--a shocker!--and wonder of wonders, the Spirit of Jesus Christ descended upon him as it did for his Jewish followers. Even the non-Jews have access to the God of Israel! Let's ponder this Sunday what truly was a revelatory earthquake for the first Christians whose shockwaves persist to this day.
This Sunday we come to the fourth part of our sermon series on the book of Acts. This week we will meet Saul of Tarsus, the self-avowed enemy of the burgeoning Christian community, who had just cheered on the brutal death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and watch as he finds himself displaced, upended, and overturned by an personal invasion of the resurrected Christ. The greatest enemy of the early Church thereby becomes one of its greatest evangelists. Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Apostle. This Sunday let's ponder again what happens whenever grace invades.
This Sunday we come to the fourth part of our sermon series on the book of Acts. This week we will meet Saul of Tarsus, the self-avowed enemy of the burgeoning Christian community, who had just cheered on the brutal death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and watch as he finds himself displaced, upended, and overturned by an personal invasion of the resurrected Christ. The greatest enemy of the early Church thereby becomes one of its greatest evangelists. Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Apostle. This Sunday let's ponder again what happens whenever grace invades.
Sermons and Scripture delivered from The Pulpit of Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC. Tune in weekly for Inspiring Messages and Scripture delivered during weekly Worship Services.
Sermons and Scripture delivered from The Pulpit of Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC. Tune in weekly for Inspiring Messages and Scripture delivered during weekly Worship Services.
Sermons and Scripture delivered from The Pulpit of Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC. Tune in weekly for Inspiring Messages and Scripture delivered during weekly Worship Services.
Sermons and Scripture delivered from The Pulpit of Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC. Tune in weekly for Inspiring Messages and Scripture delivered during weekly Worship Services.