Kindred Church Podcast

Few of us would say that our lives look exactly the way we want them to (especially in this complicated season of the year!). So in today’s sermon we’ll consider the Christmas story through the eyes of someone who can definitely relate. And we’ll discover that it’s precisely in the difficult, messy imperfections that God’s love meets and transforms us.  Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25 Share: Kn...

For many of us, our experiences of joy tend to be pretty short lived. We might feel joy when something good happens to us. But before we know it, something bad comes along and wipes out whatever joy we might have been feeling. So in today’s sermon, we’ll allow Scripture to teach us how we can find a deeper, more enduring, better kind of joy.  Scripture Reading: Luke 1:46-55 Share: Know someone who...

Just because we want something, that doesn’t mean we’re ready for it. In today’s sermon, we’ll spend some time learning from an odd-but-compelling biblical figure whose primary purpose in life was to help us get ready for the good things Jesus came to bring. Because we all want what Jesus came to bring. But are we ready? Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 Share: Know someone who needs this message...

The Advent season is a time of preparation to celebrate once again the coming of Jesus into our world. In today’s sermon, we’ll kick off Advent by reflecting on the hope that Jesus brings us. Join us!  Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:36-44 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....

We all know it’s polite to say “thank you.” But how often do we intentionally say “thank you” to God? And when we do, does the depth of our gratitude really match the breadth of ways God has blessed us? In today’s sermon, we’ll explore an emotional biblical story that demonstrates the healing power of gratitude (which science now confirms!), why we miss out on it, and what we can do about it.  Scr...

Whether we write them down, type them on our phones, or keep them in our heads, our lives tend to revolve around our to-do lists. Our main focus is to check things off and keep moving. But something is lost when we take that same approach to our faith. So in today’s sermon we’ll explore an ancient biblical passage that invites us beyond our to-do lists to something richer and more enduring. Join u...

God’s mission in the world is inclusive, expansive, and outward-facing. But sadly, churches often become just the opposite: exclusive, small-minded, and inward-facing. Most churches never intended to turn inward, and many never even realize it’s happened. And yet, all too often, it happens. So in today’s sermon, we’ll consider Kindred’s unique role in God’s outward-facing mission, and we’ll learn...

In a world where the powerful dominate and the powerless wish they could, we tend to assume that ascendance is paramount and hostility is necessary. But Jesus begs to differ. In today’s sermon, we’ll take a break from our “Rooted” series to explore Jesus’ counterintuitive claim that the people on the bottom will soon be the ones on top. Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 Share: Know someone who nee...

Most of us have been through a season of life (or two or three) when we drifted away from our faith. When that happens, the results are usually not good. So how can we keep from drifting? In today’s sermon, we’ll explore one of the most powerful ways we can stay rooted in Jesus through all the ups and downs of life. Join us as we continue our series, “Rooted.”  Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42–47 Shar...

Scripture promises us that even when life gets overwhelming, we can find ways to thrive if we’re rooted in Jesus. So in today’s sermon we’ll unpack several common reasons why we sometimes hold Jesus at arms length and we’ll consider how to put him at the center of our lives. Join us as we start a new series, “Rooted.”  Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:6–10 Share: Know someone who needs this message...

Jesus has a much bigger agenda than we often realize. He doesn’t just want to get us to heaven when we die. He invites us to join him right now in the work of healing the world–the entire world. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a biblical song that reveals the cosmic scope of Jesus’ revolutionary agenda and the importance of our role within it.  Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Share: Know so...

Most of our prayers involve us telling God what we want. And that’s good and important. But Jesus models for us another kind of prayer that’s even more important. So in today’s sermon, we’ll explore why we need to pray like Jesus and why it’s life-changing when we do. Join us as we wrap up our series, “Powerful Prayers.”  Scripture Reading: Luke 22:39-46 Share: Know someone who needs this message...

It’s never fun to apologize for something we did wrong. And for many of us, the idea of apologizing to God (or to use biblical language, “confessing our sins”) feels like exactly the kind of self-shaming we need to do less of, not more. But in today’s sermon we’ll see that our aversion to confession is rooted in a massive misunderstanding, and we’ll learn why “I’m Sorry” is actually one of the mos...

What should we pray about? Our prayers often revolve around our own concerns and what we want God to do about them. And that’s good, because God does want us to pray about our concerns. But in today’s sermon we’ll explore another side of prayer that we sometimes neglect. We’ll discover the difference it makes when we don’t just tell God what’s on our heart for God to do, but when we also ask God w...

Sometimes when we’re struggling in life, it can feel like God’s not listening. We keep telling God about our challenges and asking for help, but it sometimes seems like God’s gone silent. That can be really painful and frustrating. So in today’s sermon we’ll explore a powerful biblical story about that very experience, and we’ll discover a surprisingly simple insight that has the potential to tran...

Sometimes in life, we find ourselves standing at a crossroads where we have to choose between what feels good and what’s right. And our decisions in those pivotal moments often shape our lives, and the lives of those around us, in profound and lasting ways. So in today’s sermon, we’ll explore the story of the very first Christians when they found themselves at a major crossroads. And as we study t...

When we’re going through a difficult season of life, it’s natural for us to focus on getting out of that “valley” and back to the “mountaintop.” But if we’re open to it, there are some blessings waiting for us in the valley that we simply can’t find anyplace else. So in today’s sermon we’ll explore a beloved passage of Scripture and discover some powerful insights about the hard times we face in l...

Feeling anxious right now? You are not alone! Whether you’re a student, a parent, a professional, or a retiree, the transition from summer to fall means that a brand-new season of life is about to begin. And new seasons bring new uncertainties, new fears, new stressors, and a mountain of new reasons to be nervous. So in today’s sermon, we’ll spend some time exploring a biblical word of wisdom that...

We all look to people we admire for guidance and inspiration. But if we’re honest, we often go one step further and simply wish we were someone else. It’s tempting to see our flaws, failures, and weaknesses as burdensome obstacles to overcome. But in today’s sermon, we’ll explore a powerful biblical reminder to find joy in who we are, rather than who we wish we were. Join us as we continue our ser...

For most of us, the word “service” doesn’t inspire a lot of excitement. “Service” sounds like time-consuming, energy-consuming work that probably won’t be much fun to do. So no wonder we often feel a mix of guilt and defensiveness when someone approaches us with an invitation to serve. And yet, Scripture consistently portrays “service” as an unmatched source of profound joy. So in today’s sermon,...

Behind all the different identities that the world imposes upon us, there is something deeper and truer: who we are in God’s eyes. In today’s sermon, we’ll be reminded that God has gifted us with a sacred calling, and we’ll be encouraged to walk through this life in a manner worthy of our call. Join us as we begin a new series, “Pillars of Joy.”  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-5 Share: Know some...

The world around us is a mess, to put it mildly. You don’t have to look far to see painful reminders of how harmful humans can be. And as easy as it is to point fingers at “them,” the truth is that we’re each part of the problem in one way or another. But during such heavy times, it’s important to remember that in God’s eyes, our brokenness doesn’t overshadow our belovedness. In today’s sermon, we...

Have you ever wanted to grow in your relationship with God, but despite your best intentions, you just couldn’t seem to make it happen? It’s a common experience that can become very discouraging. But we don’t have to give up! In today’s sermon, we’ll explore one of our biggest obstacles to spiritual growth. And we’ll learn from a beloved biblical story how a simple mindset shift can make all the d...

What’s that fear that has you tossing and turning at 2am? What’s that fear that has you scrolling on your phone trying to think about anything else? What’s that fear that keeps you from doing what you know you need to do? Life is scary. Sometimes overwhelmingly scary. So in today’s sermon we’ll explore a well-known but under-appreciated biblical story about faith in the face of fear. And we’ll lea...

In today’s sermon, we’ll explore one of the most striking and mysterious passages in the Old Testament, and we’ll discover what this ancient story has to teach us about the life-giving power of a strong church community. Join us! Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:9-14 Share: Know someone who needs this message right now? Send them the link! Connect: https://rb.gy/0gguyc Give: https://pushpay.com/g/kin...