Grenola UMC Sermons

When Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, the people were astonished—not only at His words, but at the authority with which He spoke. That authority was soon revealed as He confronted an unclean spirit, silencing it and casting it out. In a single moment, the crowd saw the difference between human teaching and divine truth, between empty words and the living Word. This passage reminds us th...

After John was arrested, Jesus began proclaiming the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He called Simon, Andrew, James, and John to leave their nets and follow Him. In that moment, ordinary fishermen became disciples with an extraordinary mission—to become fishers of men. This passage r...

At the Jordan River, Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John, and the heavens opened with the Father’s voice of approval: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Immediately afterward, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness, where He faced the tempter’s schemes. Each time, Jesus answered not with argument or compromise, but with the Word of God: “It is written.” This passage re...

As John the Baptist’s disciples worried about Jesus drawing larger crowds, John reminded them of his role: he was not the bridegroom, but the friend who rejoices at the bridegroom’s voice. His joy was complete because Christ had come, and now John must decrease so that Jesus might increase. This passage points us to the heart of every new beginning in faith—laying aside pride, envy, and self‑impor...

In the stillness of the night, shepherds keeping watch were startled by an angel’s announcement: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” What Isaiah had foretold centuries earlier—“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given”—was now fulfilled in Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus is the breaking in of light into a darkened world, the arrival of peace, hop...

Before the ministry of Jesus began, a voice was heard in the wilderness—John the Baptist, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” John made it clear that he was not the Light, but a witness to the Light; not the Christ, but the one sent ahead to point to Him. His humility and boldness remind us that preparing the way for Jesus...

Centuries before John the Baptist lifted his voice in the wilderness, the prophet Isaiah had spoken of one who would prepare the way of the Lord, making straight a highway for our God. Mark begins his Gospel by showing that this promise was being fulfilled: John came preaching repentance, pointing beyond himself to the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. In these words, we see God’s love r...

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The difference is not in words spoken but in lives lived—whether love was shown to “the least of these.” This passage reminds us that faith is never abstract; it is revealed in compassion, mercy, and service. To follow Christ is to see Him in the hu...

In the parable of the talents, Jesus tells of a master who entrusted his servants with great responsibility before departing on a journey. Two invested what they were given and saw it multiply, while one buried his gift in fear and returned nothing. This story reminds us that faith is not passive—it is active, courageous, and fruitful. To be rooted in faith is to trust God enough to risk obedience...

In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus paints a vivid picture of readiness and delay. Five were wise, carrying oil for their lamps, while five were foolish, unprepared when the bridegroom arrived. The door was opened to those who were ready, but closed to those who were not. This story is more than a warning—it is a call to live watchfully, faithfully, and expectantly, keeping our hearts prepare...

When the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, He answered with wisdom that cut through their schemes: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In a single sentence, Jesus revealed the difference between earthly obligations and eternal allegiance. This passage challenges us to discern what belongs to...

Jesus told a story of a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son, only to have the invited guests refuse to come. Their rejection opened the door for others—both unexpected and unworthy in the world’s eyes—to be gathered in. Yet even among those who entered, one was found without the proper garment, reminding us that God’s invitation is free, but it calls for a true response of faith and tr...

The disciples’ sorrow turned to joy as they realized they had been walking with the risen Christ. No longer weighed down, they hurried back to Jerusalem to share the good news with the others. His‑story became their story, and their witness became part of the Church’s story through the ages. Join us as Pastor Kenny concludes this series, reminding us that encountering Jesus always leads to mission...

As the disciples walked with the stranger on the road, their hearts burned while He opened the Scriptures to them. But it was only at the table, in the breaking of the bread, that their eyes were opened and they recognized the risen Lord. This moment reminds us that Christ is revealed not only in the Word but also in fellowship and worship. Join us as Pastor Kenny continues the His‑Story series, s...

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples walked in sorrow, unable to see that the risen Christ was beside them. As He opened the Scriptures, their hearts began to burn within them, and they realized that all of history pointed to Him. This passage reminds us that the story of redemption is not scattered or random—it is God’s story, fulfilled in Jesus. To read the Bible is to discover His presence on e...

When Peter asked how many times he must forgive, Jesus answered with a parable that stretched forgiveness beyond counting. A servant forgiven an unpayable debt refused to show mercy to another, and his hardness of heart brought judgment upon himself. The story reminds us that God’s grace toward us is immeasurable, and those who have received such mercy are called to extend it freely. Forgiveness i...

On the mountain, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John—His face shining like the sun, His clothes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, and the disciples fell to the ground in awe and fear. Yet as they descended, their hearts were filled with questions: about Elijah, about suffering, about what all of this could mean. The Transfiguration reminds us that faith is not th...

From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that the path to glory would lead through suffering, rejection, and the cross. Peter resisted, unable to imagine that God’s plan could involve such loss. Yet Jesus made clear that salvation comes not through human strength but through His sacrifice, and that following Him means denying ourselves, taking up the cross, and trusting His way above o...

When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” it was more than a question—it was a turning point. Some said He was a prophet, others compared Him to John the Baptist or Elijah. But Peter confessed the truth revealed by the Father: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession became the rock on which Christ would build His Church, a foundation that still holds firm...

Under the cover of night, Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions that reached beyond religion into the mystery of new birth. Jesus spoke of being born of water and the Spirit, of a life that cannot be earned but must be received. Then came the words that have echoed through centuries: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eve...

When the crowds pressed in with hunger, Jesus took five loaves and two fish, blessed them, and fed thousands with more left over than when He began. Later that same night, He came to His disciples walking on the water, calming their fear and lifting Peter when his faith faltered. These moments reveal the heart of the gospel: our God is able—able to provide, able to sustain, able to save. In every...

As the crowd struggled to understand the voice from heaven, Jesus declared that the hour of His glorification had come. The cross would be the place where the ruler of this world is cast out and where the Son of Man is lifted up to draw all people to Himself. In the midst of confusion and unbelief, He urged His hearers to walk while they had the light, lest darkness overtake them. To believe in Hi...

When the Pharisees challenged Jesus about tradition, He turned their attention to the heart. It is not what goes into a person that defiles, but what comes out—from words, motives, and actions shaped by the heart. In exposing empty ritual, Jesus warned that leaders without true understanding are like the blind leading the blind, and both will fall. His teaching calls us to examine where we place o...

As Jesus sat by the sea and taught the crowds, He told a story of seed scattered on different kinds of soil. Some was snatched away, some withered, some was choked, and some bore an abundant harvest. In His explanation, Jesus revealed that the seed is the Word of God, and the soil is the condition of the heart. This parable is both a warning and a promise: the Word will not take root where hearts...

Jesus compared His generation to children who would not dance or mourn, always dissatisfied no matter what was offered. Yet in the same breath, He turned to the Father in prayer, rejoicing that His truth is revealed not to the proud but to the humble. And then came His invitation: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In a restless world, these words remind us...