Dilley First United Methodist Church

Someone is always going to be better than us at something. Living our lives in pursuit of happiness and a picture-perfect life is so draining that we might not even have anything left to actually live the life we do have. If we are going to be in pursuit of something, why can’t we be people after God’s own heart? Why can’t we be known for being people of His Way?

We know we should give, buy, why, exactly should we give? What should be our motivation being the giving? Today we tackle the Prosperity Gospel (a.k.a. the Health and Wealth Gospel) in search of our true "why" behind giving. 

All too often we find our identity in what we do (for work). Being busy and having full calendars should not be a measure of a person's worth. Today we look at Luke 10 to see passed this and get to the hear of the matter and the need of only one Jesus refers to. 

Many times, in our lives, we think that we don’t have everything together, and, therefore, we are not ready. The truth is we have more than we are even aware of, and we are more prepared than we think we are. Paul’s 6th chapter of Ephesians is meant to encourage us into action…this is our war cry!

When we find ourselves in difficult situations, where do we look for the power when we really need it? A.  It’s all too easy to find ourselves seeking the power we need from the wrong sources. Paul knows this all too well. So, he prays a powerful prayer to remind us of who we are and the purpose for which we were made in Ephesians Chapter 3.

When we set out on a journey, we have our destination in mind. Somewhere along the way, we lose our way. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in Chapter 2, he offers us directions back to the way that leads to life.

When we begin to understand the “why” behind our faith, it can take root in us and help us build a firm foundation for our life. This makes it so much easier to then put our faith into action because we know why we are doing it. We can be all in.

How is it that Christians come to trust God? To learn about how we might more fully trust God, especially in times of incredible adversity, we turn to the life of Elijah, one of our Heroes of Faith. 

Do you know the meaning of your name, or where it came from? Were you named after a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle? The point is you name means something. We find that is even more true in the Old Testament with our Heroes of Faith, in particular, Moses. Join us as we examine the life of Moses and how it might help us find meaning in our own name and life.

There are two types of people in this world: those who agree that rules are in place for a reason and those that say rules were meant to be broken. Jacob was one of those people who didn't think the rules applied to him and he took what he wanted in life. He might have gotten what he wanted, but at a price. Today we look at why God might choose to use the life of someone like Jacob to bring about...

Our lives don't always go according to our plans. But, we can choose to see our lives and center our lives around our problems or God's promises. This week we look at the life of Abram/Abraham in Genesis to help us in shifting our focus to God's promises. 

Why is it that we trust certain people in our lives? Taking it a step further, my hope and prayer is that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can trust and rely upon God and God’s word. But, if this is not the case, what is it that is keeping you from fully trusting in God? Today we explore the life of Noah in the book of Genesis and what makes him one of our "Heroes of Faith."

Why is it so easy for us to share most things, but not so much when it comes to our faith? This message begins and ends with 1 picture, 1 sentence, on 1 social media post that made a huge impact. We find that the question is NOT whether or not you are an evangelist, but, rather, what KIND of evangelist are you and what MESSAGE are you delivering with your words and your life?

On this Father's Day, I think about how my father raised me, what he taught and instilled in me, and how he continues to show me what it means to be a good husband and father. What kind of legacy am I leaving behind for my kids? Join us in this episode as we look at "Legacy: It's Not Personal."

What is keeping us from sharing our faith? When it comes to our faith, we often think of it as only a personal matter. But, when it comes to our family, this should be the very first place we share our faith and invest in the future. What legacy are you leaving?

How can we fully appreciate and not take for granted what God has done for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? The ultimate sacrifice was made on our behalf so that we might live into this REDEEMED LIFE. We look to Boaz in the book of Ruth to begin to understand what it truly means to be redeemed.

Most of us are pretty good at pretending our life is Instagram-prefect. But, what if you didn't have to pretend anymore? What if you could actually live your life with such authenticity and truth that the alternate reality was no longer necessary? What a relief that would be? What kind of freedom might that bring? This week we look at John 21:15-19 towards this end.

As Christ followers, our goal is to become holy as our father in heaven is holy. But what does it really mean to be holy? And, for that matter, why should we even try to become holy? Isn’t it enough just to believe in Jesus? Join us in our discussion on the "Sanctified Life" in this week's podcast.

Easter has come and gone, and the celebrations end. Now, we move on, but to what? What's next? We now have a NEW LIFE to live with Christ as Easter people. We look to Romans 6:12-18 to help us navigate on our journey.

Many of us might go through life feeling like we are not enough or that we don't have enough to give. In this Easter message, we look at Mary Magdalene in John 20:11-18 to see how Jesus was able to make her more than enough and become the very first evangelist (bringer of the good news).

How good is your memory? Regardless, there are times that our mind plays tricks on us. Our goal this Maundy Thursday is to approach this time and every time we come to the table with awe, wonder, and amazement, remember ever detail, and truly hear the words from Jesus as though they were being spoken to us directly, "Remember Me." (John 13:1-35)

Once upon a time, as children, we were able to experience and expect awe and wonder in life. As the years go by and the experiences in life get tougher, we become conditioned as adults to be jaded and cynical. So, how can we regain that awe and wonder we once had and be open again to the meaningful and miraculous God might do in our lives? This Palm Sunday we explore John 12:12-19 to help us in th...

You are not the same person you used to be...and that can be a good thing. In this episode, we explore Ephesians 2:1-10 to see how Paul encourages those in Ephesus and us to allow God to take us through a TRANSFORMATION and become a new creation with Jesus.

We find that REPENTANCE can be difficult, but it can also be joyful and lead to healing, wholeness, and back to a right relationship with God.

What do C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and you have in common? Find out on this week's episode of "Ashes To Ashes" entitled "Deliverance." Our journey takes us to the 121st chapter of the book of Psalms in hopes of finding the help we need find and discovering our purpose when God finally delivers us.