From The Pulpit of DUMC

Following Jesus isn’t a program of self-help, by which we gain greater control over our lives in order that we might achieve the success and happiness for which we long. As we learn from this week’s reading from Luke (Luke 9:51-62), following Jesus is about giving up our lives, surrendering our lives, and learning to take up the life of Christ. Jesus says, if you want the life that really is life,...

This week we will be reflecting on the passage from Galatians 3:23-29. In this passage we hear the well known verses that in our baptism we have clothed ourselves with Christ (27), as well as, that we are all one in Christ Jesus (28). We will reflect on what this means for us today and how we can embody these verses.

In the liturgical year, the Sunday following Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – all are God and God is One. The doctrine of the Trinity is not some philosophical formula to be interpreted, or some kind of higher math to be solved, rather it is the way we name who God is, and how God is at work to heal and save us. To say that...

This week, we gather to celebrate God’s breathing the Church into existence by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2) Pentecost is about our being filled with the presence and power of the resurrected Christ that we might continue the mission of Christ to heal and save the world. It’s about having Christ’s Spirit flow in and through us. It is not so much about our feelings. And it’s not about...

According to Acts 1: 1-11, the resurrected Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God before ascending to heaven. So on the church calendar, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord each year on the 40th day of the season of Easter (this year, May 26). Throughout Christian history, the Ascension of the Lord has been a celebrated, honored holiday and feast day -- t...

In this week’s reading from the gospel of John (John 14:23-29), Jesus comforts his friends by encouraging them to not be afraid. The phrase “fear not” or “do not be afraid” appears at least 100 times in Scripture. While we may acknowledge that there are things which frighten us, Scripture urges us to not be controlled by fear. Instead, we are called to love, trusting that love casts out fear. Fear...

Davidson UMC Youth hosts Sarah Payne and Anna Liz Turner talk with graduating high school seniors Shelby Liebler and Mitch Dreffer. The four discuss the importance of being engaged with the church as students, share some of their memories, and also what their plans are for the future. You won't want to miss this fun and insightful episode.

On Sunday, we listen in as Jesus says to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”(John 13:34-35) Discipleship is the name we give to the process of our becoming, of how, in spending time with Christ we become more like...

In this week’s gospel reading (John 10:22-30) Jesus calls us sheep. It was a reference folks in his context could identify with and understand. Beyond that, I think he did so for a couple of reasons. He knows that we need someone, or something to define the way for us, to lead us, to push us forward, to call us in the way that we should go. He also knows that we have a tendency to wander off. It m...

Sunday will be a beautiful day at Davidson UMC as we celebrate the confirmation of almost 40 youth. For several months they've learned together and journeyed together, growing deeper in their faith. We are grateful for the energy, creativity, and gifts they bring to our life together. They make us a better church. This week we will focus on the Gospel of John and Peter's second call. As we celebra...

Location. Location. Location. Many of us have heard location is a very important aspect in real estate. This week as we continue in the Easter season we will be looking at the passage from John 20. This passage is the story of Jesus meeting the disciples in the locked home. He offers them peace and they rejoiced. This is also the passage with the well-known story about doubting Thomas, who wants t...

Davidson UMC Youth, featuring hosts Sarah Payne and Anna Liz Turner, have started a podcast for youth! On this first episode they talk to DUMC's Senior Pastor David Hockett and discuss his calling, what his job is like, and the weirdest thing that has happened to him on the job.

“New creation has begun, and you are invited to be a part of it.”(NT Wright) This is the good news the women shared with the disciples upon returning from the tomb that first Easter morning.(Luke 24:1-12) In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has re-ordered the rhythm of this world, has re-ordered creation, and we are invited to be a part of that new order. Easter is, in a way, God’s magnum opu...

Following Jesus is an extraordinary gift, and it can be costly and demanding. As we draw near to Christ, become members of his body, and follow him more closely we become more generous, loving, and free. In following Jesus, we become a people who are salt and light, a foretaste of the Kingdom of heaven on earth, the very hope of the world. On Sunday we begin our Holy Week journey focusing our atte...

David, Kevin, and Karen are back together again for a Lenten check-in and a look ahead to Holy Week. As usual, there are laughs and an assortment of other conversations.

As we continue to prepare for Easter on this fifth Sunday in Lent, we will be reflecting on the passage from John where Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume. We will hear about Judas Iscariot complaining about the cost of the perfume and then we will hear Jesus’ response. You are invited to join us in-person or online as we reflect on this passage together.

In this week’s reading (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) we encounter the Church in Corinth. Corinth was a difficult, often wild, and impenitent place. Paul founded the church there and his relationship with the Corinthian Christians was often difficult and bittersweet. Paul loved them, felt responsible for them as a father in the faith, and often wrote to them giving advice, counsel, and correction. In thi...

Kevin and Karen are joined with two delightful guests - Davidson College student Catie Holshouser and Cindy Turner (yes, Kevin's wife!). Catie is the Campus Ministry Intern and Cindy is the Lay Leader for Campus Ministry. The four have conversations about being a Davidson College student, faith, and Davidson Wesley Group updates. And they tell us who else has been involved in Davidson Wesley and w...

In this week’s gospel reading from Luke (13:1-9), we encounter a world-view shared by many of Jesus’ contemporaries – tragedy, sudden death, illness, and suffering are punishment for sin. Likewise, good health, success, wealth, and prosperity are signs of God’s blessing and favor and are the result of a person’s goodness or righteousness. In his interaction with a crowd, Jesus responds by rejectin...

We take a step further in our journey to the cross on this Second Sunday of Lent. Last week, we focused on Jesus’ temptation. This week, we will focus on Jesus’ sorrow. Our scripture comes to us from Luke 13:31-35. It begins with a warning from the Pharisees for Jesus about Herod’s plan to kill him, but it becomes a reflection on the nature of Jesus’ life and mission. It highlights the tragic role...

Our gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent is Luke 4:1-13, where Luke tells the story of Jesus being tempted. As we enter into the season of Lent, a season of reflection and fasting, a season of preparation for our annual celebration of Easter, what does Jesus being tempted in the wilderness have to do with us? Most of us would probably not claim that Satan or some adversary had come to us an...

On this special episode, David, Kevin, and Karen have the opportunity to talk with Pastor Jozef Bartos, from Metodysci w Krakowie, and Kate Werner who both live in Krakow, Poland. They discuss the current situation with Ukraine and Russia and how it is affecting life and people in their area. DUMC choirs traveled to Krakow in 2015 and performed at Pastor Bartos' church.

This week we conclude our series on Jesus’ parable of the father who had two lost sons. We’ve noted who was gathered that day listening to Jesus teach – both people of questionable reputation, people on the margins of faith and life, and the Pharisees and religion scholars, and everyone in between. We saw how Jesus directed much of what he had to say at those who were considered the good, moral, r...

Next week is Ash Wednesday and David, Kevin, and Karen discuss the meaning behind it and how you can prepare to keep a holy Lent. Kevin shares a new prop for 2022 and they also recap the recent youth episode and talk bananas.

This week we progress in our study of The Prodigal God by Tim Keller based on Luke 15. We have encountered two different spiritual paths in the older and younger brother’s examples. Now, we will look at the character who was left out of the story. This person provides an example that is radically different than either of the other two. This week, we discover the unique path that our true elder bro...