United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

If Jesus is Savior, what can you expect of him? Jesus works in a way that is different—and far more powerful—than what many expect.

The best answer for those without housing is to help them to have a home! Habitat for Humanity has carried out this mission very effectively across our country, and the work of Habitat has recently been revived in our county. Rachel Kerns, who began as executive director in 2014, will provide an overview of what Habitat is doing in Portage County, and how our church is (and can be) involved. To vi...

The cross is a bloody affair, and then Christians “drink Jesus’ blood” and “eat his body” in Communion. Yikes! What is this all about? The symbolism of the cross and Communion speaks profoundly about how Jesus brings us into new life.

God has a great concern for disadvantaged children! This led church leaders in years past in America to establish orphanages, which in recent decades have transitioned to an even tougher challenge of helping today’s troubled youth. Hear the story of how we are at work through United Methodist–related Guidestone in Berea, with a presentation by Rev. Jared Gadomski Littleton, who is an ordained Unit...

As with Abraham when he journeyed through the middle east, our faith journey involves a divine impulse; some tentative testing; a leap of faith.

This seminar explores the historical and theological backstory of the current “Points of the Cross” sermon series. Dr. Palmer leads participants through the key ways in which the great theologians of church history have “explained” what is happening on the cross. We will see how each approach can help us to come to a fuller and deeper understanding of the cross.

How can the cross be construed as some sort of victory? Isn’t Jesus’ death a defeat? In fact, the cross brings real and lasting victory because of how Jesus meets the powers of evil. Through the cross, we can find victory as we confront the powers of evil in today’s world!

The exhibit “Led the Way” by Ann Schierhorn, KSU professor emeritus of journalism, recognizes the sacrifices and perseverance of eight African American students who desegregated the Tallahassee, Fla., public schools during the civil rights movement. The students, who endured taunts, anger, and racism, went on to become lawyers, teachers, a doctor and a businessman. Schierhorn spoke abo...

This week, we celebrated Youth Sunday, a service where our teens have an opportunity to lead in music and worship for the full service. This year’s theme was Made, using Psalm 139 as an inspiration. Here are three messages from Emma Herman, Ryan Dean, and Zach Wight, followed by a benediction given by Hanna Holman.

We know God’s concerns because God tells us! In a fast-moving Bible study, Dr. Palmer will take us from Moses through the Biblical prophets to Jesus to discover the “heart” of God. Please visit Soundfaith  to view a video of the presentation slides with the audio. (https://soundfaith.com/sermons/167780-how-do-we-know-what-god’s-concerns-are)

Jesus received a mixed reception as the messiah. What was expected, and what did the world actually get?

In this Ash Wednesday sermon, Dr. Palmer discusses Jesus’ final words on the cross and what they mean for us today.

Humanity is clearly off kilter—we are out of sync with the goodness of God! How can our lives be set aright? We find the complete answer in the cross.

Through Christ, God has made reconciliation happen. It is up to us accept this and act on it…be ambassadors for Christ.

Why can’t God just forgive us without the cross? Is the God of the Christian gospel a bloodthirsty deity, demanding human sacrifice? To the contrary, when the cross is rightly understood, it is the ultimate enactment of God’s love. On the cross, God acts, at one and the same time, with perfect justice and perfect mercy, so that we can be brought out of our brokenness into fellowship with God.

Does the cross make any sense? How can the crucifixion of a man 2,000 years ago save us? Many people today are not quite sure what to make of the cross. But in fact, the cross connects with us in a powerful way. It is, as Paul said, “the wisdom of God and the power of God.”

The way into a positive future may appear blocked, as firmly as the way was blocked for the people of Israel as they hoped to go to the Promised Land. But God can open the way.

God’s healing power can restore us, and that power can be at work in unexpected ways!

There is a “river of life” that flows through the Scripture—a powerful image of God’s power to refresh, cleanse, and enliven our spirits.

The story of the visit of the wise men portrays Jesus as a direct challenge to political authority. The wise men come to honor “the king of the Jews,” and it is not Herod. Herod responds with violence, but the power of God is stronger. The story proclaims that above all political authority there is a greater King, to whom we owe our highest allegiance.

We live in frightening times. But at the center of the Christmas story is the proclamation: “Fear not!”

It is now traditional that the Christmas story and nativity scenes include shepherds. It can be easy to forget the role of shepherds in the society of the day, and exactly what it meant that God included them in the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

On our most difficult journey, God is with us. This message, declared early in the Old Testament, comes to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is Emmanuel – God with us.

Is the gospel absurd? The apostle Paul, in I Corinthians, said that the gospel message appeared as “foolishness” to the “wise” of his day. Indeed there is paradox—apparent absurdity—at the heart of the proclamation about Jesus. How can the power of God be evident in the birth of a poor child in a barn? How can the truth of the ages be proclaimed by a carpenter’s son? How can life be made available...

As the people of Israel faced apparent disaster, the prophet Jahaziel declared, “Fear not, be not dismayed, for the battle is not yours but God’s, and the Lord will be with you.” The people moved forward in faith, giving thanks to God even before a victory, and found deliverance. The story brings an inspiring message to our lives today!