From The Pulpit of DUMC

Epiphany is about revelation Jesus shows us what God is like through love, mercy, and humility. God’s light often comes in unexpected places The Magi found God not in power, but in vulnerability. Not all light leads to life Consumerism, fear, and division promise brightness but leave us empty. The light of Christ reveals and frees us It uncovers who we truly are and invites us to live honestly and...

Christmas is more than history Christmas is not just about something that happened 2,000 years ago. It is about what God is still doing today. God does not wait for perfection We often think we need to fix ourselves before God can enter our lives. Christmas tells us God comes right into the mess. God moved in At Christmas, God put on flesh and became our neighbor. God chose closeness over distance...

-) Fear can cloud our vision and lead us away from God’s heart -) God often works most powerfully in moments that feel broken -) The more excellent way is not legalism, but love -) Compassion and mercy reflect the heart of God -) Saying yes to God does not remove fear, but it leads us through it -) Love is not a feeling but a faithful, lived commitment -) God is with us even when life is not going...

• Isaiah calls out injustice but also promises hope. • A new shoot from the stump of Jesse points to Jesus, who brings justice and peace. • The peaceable kingdom isn’t only about heaven. It starts here when we live out Christ’s teaching. • Peace is possible, but it takes effort, sacrifice, and intention. • Jesus blesses peacemakers, not peace admirers. • Advent invites us to work for peace in our...

1. Advent is a season of active waiting. We pause, pay attention, and prepare our hearts for Christ to meet us again. 2. Matthew 24 isn’t about predicting the end. It’s a reminder to stay faithful in the present, not to look for an escape. 3. God’s future is unfolding now. With Jesus’ coming, the world has already begun to be reshaped. Our call is to join that work. 4. Don’t cling to what’s passin...

Takeaways: • God is doing a new thing even when we can’t yet see it. • The worst things are never the last things. • Our calling is to be a sign of hope, not a gatekeeper of it. • God’s future is one of joy, healing, and renewal for all creation. • Live so others can glimpse God’s new day breaking in.

Take Home Notes: Scripture: Matthew 14:13–21 Theme: God’s abundance meets our faithfulness. Main Points: Grace in Action: Grace isn’t a thing God gives—it’s God giving us Himself in Jesus Christ. The Myth of Scarcity: The world says there’s not enough time, love, or resources. God says, “There is more than enough.” You Feed Them: Jesus calls us to meet the needs of others with what we have—trustin...

1. God’s Word is Living Light Scripture isn’t just information; it’s God’s presence lighting our path. It gives enough light for the next faithful step, even when the road ahead is unclear. 2. The Bible Is a Gift That Lasts a Lifetime Today’s third graders receive more than a book; they receive a lifelong companion that offers wisdom, comfort, and hope. 3. Scripture Shapes, Not Just Informs Readin...

Scripture Focus: Luke 17:11-19 Main Idea: Gratitude builds a strong foundation of faith; it makes us whole, not just healed. Key Points: Leprosy isolated people, but Jesus restored them through compassion. The Samaritan leper, the outsider, was the only one who returned to give thanks. Gratitude changes us from the inside out. It transforms healing into wholeness. Faith built on gratitude helps us...

Faith is a legacy , passed down through generations of believers. We each are a gift to the body of Christ, uniquely called to serve. United Women in Faith model what it means to live a sincere faith through service, justice, and compassion. “If we lack peace, it’s because we’ve forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa Ask yourself: Where is worship sending me this week?

-) We are saved by grace, not by works, but created in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2). -) Worship, Belonging, and Growing prepare us to live out our faith through Impact. -) The church makes God’s love real when we serve others in Jesus’ name. -) Impact is not optional— it’s the game we were created to play. -) Every act of compassion, generosity, or service is a way to share Christ’s love.

Key Points We don’t settle. God offers more than being “a little better.” We are invited to be transformed into Christ’s likeness. Growth is discipleship. Worship and belonging lead us into intentional spiritual formation—through study, prayer, fellowship, and service. John Wesley’s vision: To be “altogether Christian” means loving God fully, loving neighbor deeply, and trusting God completely. Ho...

-) We all need a place to belong. -) Belonging is deeper than fitting in—you can be fully you. -) In Christ, we belong to God and to each other. -) The church must be a community of radical welcome. -) Our belonging shows the world God’s love is real.

Sermon Title: Worship Series: A Future with Hope Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 Worship is the center of our life together, the foundation for belonging, growing, and making an impact. Worship draws us out of ourselves and focuses our attention on God. Engaging and inspiring worship changes us, connects us with God and one another, and opens us to God’s grace. Like Isaiah, we encounter God in worship and...

Acts is an open story. Luke leaves the ending unresolved because the mission continues with us. Faithfulness is possible because of Christ. We don’t rely on our own strength but on the faithfulness of Jesus. God’s love wins. Even in hardship, rejection, or loss, the resurrection declares that God’s love is stronger than sin and death. Small things matter. Every act of kindness, generosity, justice...

Scripture: Acts 26:9–18, 28–29 Main Points: We are called to be witnesses. Every Christian life tells a story; our words and actions communicate something about God to the world. Meeting Jesus changes everything. Paul knew about Jesus, but his life changed only when he came to know Jesus personally. Our relationship with Christ makes our witness possible. Key Quotes: “Your life may be the only ser...

Main Idea Courage doesn’t come before we act. It comes as we step out in faith, trusting that the Holy Spirit will meet us and give us strength in the moment. Key Points Paul knew danger awaited him, yet he pressed forward, confident that God was with him. Like a firefighter running into a burning building, Paul’s courage came from serving someone greater than himself. Jesus’ words came true: “Be...

Title: A Life Worth Following Sermon Take-Home Notes God is With Us – John Wesley’s final words, “The best of all is, God is with us,” are a reminder that God’s presence is constant—in joy, trials, weakness, and weariness. Paul’s Farewell – In Acts 20:17-35, Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders reveal his deepest priority: not comfort, reputation, or legacy, but faithfulness to the gospel and...

Scripture Focus Acts 17:1-9 Big Idea Following Jesus means giving him ultimate allegiance and allowing his upside down kingdom to reshape every part of life. Key Insights The early church was known for challenging the status quo because they proclaimed another King—Jesus. Civil authorities hold only the authority God permits, so every government stands under God’s judgment. We often seek a gospel...

Sermon Title: Gathered and Sent Scripture: Acts 13:1–3 1. Everything flows from the heart. Howard Thurman said, “Everything we do flows from our center.” If our heart is centered in God, our actions will reflect God's love. 2. Worship, prayer, and fasting come before mission. The early church didn’t start with strategy or structure—they started with spiritual practices, then sent Paul and Barnabas...

📝 Take Home Notes: No Longer Unclean Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 Preacher: Rev. David Hockett 🔹 God’s Love Is for All We are welcomed into God’s family not because of our background, behavior, or beliefs—but because God is love (1 John 4:8). That’s the only reason. 🔹 Peter’s Vision Wasn’t About Food The vision of the sheet filled with animals wasn’t about dietary rules—it was about people . It was...

Scripture: Acts 9:1–19 Main Idea: Saul’s transformation into Paul shows us that real change is possible—and that love, not shame or hate, is what brings lasting transformation. Key Points: Like Mark Twain, Saul had a troubling past, but he didn’t stay there. God used even his worst moments to tell a new story. Saul was literally “blinded by the light” of Christ—and came out seeing everything, and...

Scripture Focus: Acts 7 – The Martyrdom of Stephen Key Themes: Stephen’s Legacy: Stephen was a young man “full of grace,” chosen to serve the early Christian community. He was killed not for his works, but for speaking the truth of Jesus. Martyria = Witness: The Greek word for martyr also means witness. Stephen's death bore witness to the radical love of Christ—even forgiving his killers, just as...

📖 Sermon Notes: “Bold As Love” Rev. Jim Humphries Series: Summer in the Book of Acts Scripture: Acts 3:1–4:22 🧠 Key Questions: What would you do if money were no object? What would you do if boldness were no object? How would your life—and our church—look different if we fully lived into the boldness God has already given us? 🔥 Main Themes: Holy Boldness: Peter and John, once fearful and silent...

1. You Are More Than What Afflicts You Just like the man who said “I am Legion,” we often define ourselves by our struggles. But Jesus doesn’t see us as problems to fix—He sees us as people to restore. 2. We Are Spiritual Beings Having a Human Experience In a world that often ignores the spiritual realm, Luke’s Gospel reminds us that forces—good and bad—are real. What you allow to “possess” you sh...