United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

What is God’s calling for your life? How do you discern, and follow, that call?

How do we come to faith—a personal faith that is real and that is our own? The parable of the bridesmaids gives us an example from which to draw inspiration.

What is the nature of evil? Why does it exist? What do we do about it? Like the first disciples, we are called to “cast out demons” today.

Christ brings triumph over the power of evil. The battle comes to focus on the cross and culminates in the resurrection. Evil may yet rage in the world, but its power over us is broken, when we put our faith in Christ.

People do not generally decide to be evil. They are drawn into it, they deceive themselves, and imagine they are OK when they are doing great wrong. We see the pattern again and again—in social movements from the Nazis to present-day Islamist terrorists, and in the behavior of individuals. The Scriptures guide us to recognize such deception, and guard against it!

Anger seems to be a motivating force in our society these days. There is nothing wrong with anger, in and of itself, but it is important to understand how the scriptures help us manage and direct anger.

What is the message of the many gospel stories in which Jesus casts out demons? Are there demons in our own lives, or in the world at large, from which we need deliverance today? The New Testament brings a powerful message about how Christ will free us from the demonic powers of our time.

The notion of “the dark side” in the Star Wars movies was drawn from an age-old perception in religion—that there are dark powers at work in the world. We see these powers today. As Paul said, “Our struggle is against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil.” (Ephesians 6:12) The gospel provides us with the answer to those powers.

Is there really something beyond this life? Can we believe in eternity? And if we believe in eternal life, what difference does that make for life right now? These questions are decisively answered on Easter.

We like to do our own thing. We should not have to be responsible for someone else. Or does God have another idea? What is God’s vision for the human race?

In the book of Acts, early Christians were described as “the people who were turning the world upside down.” [Acts 17:6] Indeed Christ does turn the world upside down, reversing values, goals, and patterns of behavior. We only grasp the gospel when we understand the kind of radical reversal that Jesus brings, and when we become a part of that story!

“I can pray to God in a closet.” “I get closer to God by walking in the woods than by going to church.” “I am spiritual but not religious.” Such statements are common. But how in fact do we authentically connect with God? What brings us into a real and deep relationship with God? The Bible has some surprising answers.

We cannot save ourselves. We need God! But how does God save us? And what sort of “salvation” do we need? God’s saving action comes finally to clear focus and fulfillment in the cross of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the most revolutionary idea at the heart of the gospel is the idea of grace—that God is patient with us, will forgive sinners, and will finally give us love and endless blessing even though we do not deserve it. While many religions acknowledge God, affirm moral values, and encourage spiritual striving, the principle of grace is uniquely declared in Jesus Christ. It is a message that can t...

Can you be good without God? Many people argue that we can have moral values without belief in God. Others note that some people who believe in God have very twisted values. In fact, human societies have had all sorts of values; even Nazis thought their actions were justified. How can we determine what is truly right? Even more, how can we do what is right? We find the answer in the Scriptures.

The terrorist shouts, “God is great,” while slaughtering innocent people. The terrorist cannot shout, “God is good.” To say, “God is good,” is to make a fundamental claim about life—that good will triumph over evil, because the very nature of God is to create good. But how does goodness win? There is an extraordinary answer in Jesus.

In order to find the answer to one’s sickness, it is essential to correctly diagnose the problem! The great human errors of the past century—from Communism to secular materialism to the current Islamist terrorism—are all rooted in a wrong understanding of our basic problem. God’s Word gives us the key diagnosis, and so points us to the cure.

Are we more than a cosmic accident? Does life have any ultimate purpose? Is there a Master Designer and Artist behind all that we see? The Bible gives a clear answer, which is fully coherent with modern science.