United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

Biblical people journeyed from anarchy (the period of the Judges) through authoritarianism (the period of the kings) through subservience (the period of being dominated by empires) to genuine freedom in Jesus Christ. Freedom is not simply being able to do what you want; it is being able to find wholeness in life. We find true freedom in Christ.

We so often imagine that we have to wrestle our way through life by our own shrewdness and ability; but when we come up short, we recognize our profound need for God.

We are invited to live in light of the future we have with God.

We can hear God’s voice speaking to us today.

God wants us to share the wealth, not hoard it.

Zephaniah initially proclaims God’s devastating judgment, then suddenly declares God’s forgiveness and promise. It is a theological movement foreshadowing what God does in Christ.

We often want to keep things controlled and comprehensible; but God works beyond our expectations.  We need to make room for mystery in life, to be receptive to the Spirit of God.

Although evil may rage on earth, there is a Judge on high.  God will ultimately bring justice.   We are called to be a part of God’s purposes on earth, trusting in the face of evil that good will prevail.

 We find our real strength, as individuals and as a nation, in God.

In Christ we see the incredible patience of God – that though humanity acts in sin and is slow to respond to God, God persists in grace. 

There is much bad in the world along with the good; but we need to let God be the judge, and on our part we are called to join with Christ, who is at work for redemption.

Jesus calls us to persevere in seeking God and doing good, even when God seems absent.

God’s Spirit, active eternally, is poured out expansively on the day of Pentecost, empowering the disciples to carry out what otherwise would be an impossible mission. We likewise are to look to the Holy Spirit for empowerment today!

The Israelites are being reminded that it was God, and only God, Who has been with them through many challenges. Paul assures his readers that they are children of God.

This is our annual Youth Sunday service, where our teens create and present the elements of the worship service.

We are called to be “good soil” – receiving the word of God to grow in us; and we also have a ministry of “sowing seed”: spreading God’s Word and grace, trusting that God will be at work in time.

The Christian life is a process of growth, moving from spiritual infancy (where unfortunately many people are stuck) into spiritual maturity; this requires a major commitment!

When we have the answer to death, we begin to fully live life. Eternal life is not simply a future promise, but the reality of a new life that begins now

Dr. Palmer examines the Biblical basis for the concept of eternal life and resurrection.

We reflect with Rev. Douglas Denton on where we would fit during the Palm Sunday procession.

Guest preacher Judith Nedel discusses the possibilities of “Getting to Heaven with a Poor Man’s Faith or Can a Rich Man Get to Heaven?”.

While human beings typically want to climb the ladder, Jesus makes the opposite movement; he is the reversal of our endless striving, showing the truth path to a life of meaning.

God’s mercy is poured out upon us through the cross; we are to that mercy flow to others.

The first miracle of Jesus is a dramatic sign of the transformation that He can bring about in human lives.