Kindred Church Podcast

In today’s sermon we’ll explore an uncomfortable truth that shows up all over Scripture: Sometimes God calls us to do things that are hard. That may not sound like good news. But as we’ll discover, God’s challenging call is always paired with an extraordinary promise. And when we answer God’s call, especially when it’s hard, we can be sure that amazing things await us on the other side.  Scripture...

Whenever we feel a sense of scarcity, it’s easy to view people around us as competitors and rivals. But we believe in a God of abundance who calls us to a spirit of cooperation and mutual flourishing. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a biblical story illuminating the power of choosing cooperation over competition, and we’ll consider the life-giving difference that can make in our hearts and lives....

Sometimes when our souls are weary and we’re struggling to feel connected to God, God sends someone into our life who can speak the words we need to hear. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the story of one biblical hero whose faith was revived through the timely companionship of a God-given friend. Along the way, we’ll consider how God may be speaking to us in similar ways through the friends in ou...

Most of us live our lives at such a fast pace that we’re almost always looking ahead to the future, and we rarely slow down to reflect on the past. That’s a problem, because looking back is essential to growing in our relationship with God. So in today’s sermon, we’ll discover why looking back is so important for our faith, and we’ll explore several practical ways we can incorporate more prayerful...

Sometimes God shows up in a powerful way that nobody saw coming. That’s what happened on the day of Pentecost. As a result, the church was launched into the world to share the inclusive love of Jesus, and the world was forever changed. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the church’s origin story, why it matters, and what it means for our lives today.  Scripture Reading: Acts 2 , selected verses Shar...

In today’s sermon, we’ll consider the urgent, vitally-important work God has called Kindred to do in our community. To help us, we’ll explore the intriguing story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven, what it meant for the first disciples, and what it means for us right now.  Scripture Reading: Acts 1:6-15 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/...

At Kindred, we fully include women in the life and leadership of our church. And while some of us may feel that that stance needs no explanation, others of us come from church backgrounds where the role of women was restricted. In fact, some of us have been personally harmed by a previous church’s restrictions on women. So in today’s sermon, we’ll look to the example of Jesus and his earliest foll...

Sadly, the church in America has earned a reputation for being a pretty exclusive community. That’s because many churches have chosen to focus on judging and condemning people rather than embracing them. So it’s important to recognize that exclusive churches do not reflect what God is like! In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a powerful, biblical example of God’s radical commitment to inclusion and w...

In today’s sermon, as we conclude our series on the relationship between Scripture and science, we’ll explore the topic of miracles. From the parting of the Red Sea to the resurrection of Jesus, the Bible is filled with lots of different miracle stories. But can we take those stories seriously while also taking science seriously? Is it possible to believe in miracles and trust science at the same...

Science gives us extraordinary insights about our bodies, our minds, and our universe. And in today’s sermon, we’ll discover how those scientific insights can usher us into the worshipful practice of “wonder,” marveling at God’s handiwork and praising God for the beauty we find in creation. Join us as we continue our series, “Science and Scripture.”  Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:13-18 Share: Know...

Many of us have been led to believe that there’s an inherent conflict between science and Scripture. Influential voices from certain parts of the scientific community and certain parts of the Christian community insist that there’s no way to reconcile the findings of science with the assertions of Scripture. But is that true? In today’s sermon we’ll begin exploring the relationship between these t...

Most of us know what it’s like to experience significant disappointment in life. And when our lives aren’t going the way we had hoped, we sometimes begin to feel disappointed in God. So in today’s sermon, we’ll explore the story of some biblical figures who were feeling the same way. And with them, we’ll discover a powerful source of hope that stands up to any disappointment we will ever face. Joi...

Christians believe that God doesn’t just care about human suffering, but that in Jesus, God actually enters into human suffering. In today’s sermon, we’ll meditate on that powerful truth and the difference it makes for our lives and our world.  Scripture Reading: Psalm 22:1, 16-18 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/0gguyc Give: https://...

Life is full of conflicts. From our homes to our workplaces to the political and international spheres, conflicts are all around us. So it’s important to remember that Jesus calls us to handle conflict in some very countercultural and counterintuitive ways. In today’s sermon we’ll consider a few practical things we can do to handle conflict the Jesus way, and we’ll discover the powerful difference...

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of so many forces in this world that are outside of our control. But in today’s sermon we’ll explore a powerful biblical promise that the God of the universe is with us and for us.  Scripture Reading: Psalm 110 :1-4 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/0gguyc Give: https://pushpay.com/g/kindredumc P...

Our culture convinces us that we can organize, plan, and work ourselves into a life of peace and joy.  And our culture promises us that if we can just get good enough and try hard enough, we’ll finally find that elusive sense of holistic fulfillment. But how’s that working out for us? In today’s sermon, we’ll explore the countercultural message of a beloved passage of Scripture that has the power...

We all get overwhelmed by life sometimes, and many of us are overwhelmed a lot. And not only does that feel bad, but it’s also bad for us. So where can we turn when we’re feeling overwhelmed? Today, we’ll glean some valuable wisdom from a biblical figure who was facing that exact same question, and we’ll explore a few ways that our faith can be a powerful source of strength in overwhelming times. ...

In the heart of the Bible, we find a diverse collection of songs called Psalms, which have shaped the faith of God’s people for millennia. The Psalms meet us in the depths and the heights of human experience, and they reorient us toward the God who is always with us. In today’s sermon, we’ll discover how the Psalms can guide our prayers, give words to our praise, and heal our hearts.  Scripture Re...

Most of us have been presented with two basic options for how to think about sex. The one many of us learned in church tends to produce an extraordinary amount of shame. The one we’ve learned from secular society inevitably harms us and others. Both options are flawed. So as followers of Jesus, we need a better way to think about sex—a way that helps and doesn’t harm, a way that’s faithful to the...

Research shows that the vast majority of us are either in a long-term romantic relationship or we’d like to be in one in the future. And of course, we all want relationships that are healthy and happy. But we have a tendency to look for relationship guidance in some pretty unhelpful places. So in today’s sermon, we’ll seek some divine perspective as we consider the original purpose of romantic rel...

Sooner or later, we all face painful seasons of life when we find ourselves asking God, “Why? Why is this happening? Why are You allowing this?” In some cases, we eventually get an answer. In other cases, we never do. In today’s sermon, we’ll spend time with one of the most influential figures in the entire Bible as we explore a time when he was asking, “Why?” Along the way, we’ll identify a coupl...

Sometimes in life, time runs out on the thing we were hoping for, and we’re left in a state of disappointment or despair. So in today’s sermon, we’ll explore a powerful story where Jesus himself enters into that experience, and we’ll discover why we can keep hope alive even when it feels too late. Join us as we continue our series, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.”  Scripture Reading: John 11:32-44 S...

Sooner or later, we all face difficult circumstances that challenge our faith. We want to believe that God is good and loving and powerful. But sometimes that’s hard to square with the harsh realities of what we’re going through. So how can we trust God in those challenging times when God doesn’t make sense? Today, we’re starting a new sermon series exploring some faith-shaking moments in the live...

The prospect of a whole new year may feel exciting to some of us. But others of us find it pretty daunting. So today we’ll consider an encouraging promise from Jesus. And we’ll explore a few simple ways we can follow him into this new year with hope, faith, and purpose. Scripture Reading: Luke 2:25–35 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/...

Christmas Eve Service, 2025 Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/0gguyc Give: https://pushpay.com/g/kindredumc Prayer: https://rb.gy/xwmuok Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/kindrednc.church/kindreds-latest-12-21-2025