Plans in the Trouble
Pastor Cyndi McDonald reflects on two favorite scripture passages submitted by two people in the congregation: Jeremiah 29:11 and Matthew 6:34. She shares how these scriptures are helping her get through a current trial.
Everyday Resurrection
John 20:1-18
Pastor Paula Dallas.
Let's be Easter people! A sermon about how we need and celebrate the Resurrection throughout the year.
We're not giving up!
2 Corinthians 4: 7-10; 13-16
Pastor Paula Dallas.
God's light is within us, ordinary people. Hear a sermon on how to live by faith, empowered by the light of God.
Nobody gets the problem they can handle
Nobody gets the problem they can handle. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a problem. Sometimes life throws problems at us. And sometimes it's God! Take the case Ananias, sent by God to heal Saul (who comes breathing murderous threats to destroy Ananias and his church family.) What gives Ananias strength to follow God's will? How can we make similar choices, especially when it comes to bringing peace to times of anxiety, conflict, and change.
Jealousy and Sabotage
Paul brings good news...until he starts stepping on toes. He disrupts the status quo, introducing change that leads to resistance and fear. Similarly, jealousy can escalate into fierce opposition. How do our stories about other people form our attitudes toward them? It's easy to focus on what others are doing wrong, but the Christian walk is about us. We aren’t responsible for the naysayers and know-it-alls. Remember whose you are. Shake off the dust and look for where the Holy Spirit is at work.
Stop, pray and sing
Can people change? Paul grew up saying the morning blessing, giving thanks for being a man and not a woman, free and not a slave, Jew and not a Gentile. Yet in Philippi, these are the very people who first respond to his message. Paul can be hot-headed and reactive, but in prison, he stops, prays and sings, and God works in a miraculous way.
Secrets
The miracle of Pentecost is followed by a community of people who devote themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, shared meals, community, and prayer. It doesn’t take long, though, for tension in the community to express itself. Secrets, whether from God or one another, is a symptom that someone is wrong. It can be a symptom of idolatry, which is deadly.
Triangles
The miracle of Pentecost is followed by a community of people who devote themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, shared meals, community, and prayer. It doesn’t take long, though, for tension in the community to express itself in a “triangle”. Unfortunately, triangles don't address the underlying issues. How will you respond when you find yourself in a triangle? You could (1) put on your superhero cape & save the day! (2) walk away saying, "not my monkey, not my circus", or (3) hand over the keys. We'll look at 3 examples of times when Jesus was drawn into a triangle.
Pentecost
Acts 2 describes the birth of the church. It’s a miracle for people to hear beyond the condemnation and the promise, “I will be your God and you will be my people”. They will still disagree with one another, but will stay together. Can you love someone with whom you disagree? That’s part of growing-up.
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: Volume 2 - Three words.
Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus asks disciples who doubt to go and make disciples. How do you invite someone to be part of the discipleship process? We’ll look at how John the Baptist and Jesus did this (John 1) with a story, a question, and an invite.
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: Volume 2 (welcome)
Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus asks disciples who doubt to go and make disciples. At McKendree UMC, we emphasize connections. So many people are hungering for relationships and wondering if they are welcome.
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: Volume 2 (the kitchen)
Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus asks disciples who doubt to go and make disciples. At McKendree UMC we do this with an inviting “front porch” and a kitchen full of action
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: Volume 2 (and 3, 4, 5…)
Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus asks disciples who doubt to go and make disciples. Let’s be sure we do this in a way that isn’t weird.
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: The Greatest Commandment (Part 2)
Matthew 22:34-40 Loving the neighbor seems easy…until it gets hard.
Matthew’s Greatest Hits: The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:34-40 What is the Greatest Commandment? Turns out God is most interested in a relationship of love. Seeing the law as a list of rules only gets in the way of the relationship God desires.
Easter People, raise your voices!
Matthew 28:1-10 Jesus could have started the Easter people by showing up for all Jerusalem to see. Instead, he sends them away to Galilee, where they spread the resurrection news through telling of their own encounters.
Who will you forgive for Lent? Love as hard as nails
Matthew 9:1-8 When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus, he first offers forgiveness. What a scandal! What gives him the authority to forgive sins? Jesus' ministry as Messiah is a ministry of forgiveness. He will send his disciples with a similar ministry, and it can be a ministry of love as hard as nails.
Who will you forgive for Lent? How many times?
Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus stuns his disciples when he describes how often forgiveness may be needed.