Lakeside United Methodist Church

Sermon:  Come On, Lord! Scripture:  Jonah 3:10-4:11 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: In the final and least familiar chapter of the Jonah story, the happy resolution of chapter 3 is shattered. We discover that Jonah didn't avoid Ninevah out of fear but out of anger. The book ends with an unanswered question we are forced to wrestle with: do we actually want to be in relationship with the...

Sermon:  The Power of God's Gift Scripture:  Jonah 3:1-10 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: We have seen God's ability to hear a cry for mercy from the belly of the sea monster. But what happens when it is the monster itself calling on God? Is God's love and mercy truly available to anyone who asks for it?

Sermon:  Jonah and the Sea Dragon Scripture:  Jonah 1: 17-2:3, 2:9-3:3 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description:  It is time to tackle the big fish in Jonah's story. What comes to mind for us is a whale, but perhaps the image we should be thinking of is a great sea dragon. Once we understand what the fish represents and the surprising thing that happens, we get a window into why our Christmas gif...

Sermon:  The Unwanted Gift Scripture: Jonah 1:1-6 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description:  It is one thing to ask God to speak clearly into our lives and give us direction. It is entirely another thing to respond faithfully to what we hear. In the opening scenes of Jonah, we see a man who thinks he is running for his life while he is actually running from the life God has for him.

Sermon:  How to Respond to a Scary World Scripture:  Matthew 24: 3-8, 32-39, 45-47 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Wars, social upheaval, pandemics, historic natural disasters...just another day on planet Earth, right? Or is it actually a set of signs that we should be paying close attention to in order to understand what God is doing? When the world seems out of control, it can be hard...

Sermon: Whose Image? Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Stewardship is about far more than just what we do with our money. It is at the heart of who we are and why we are here.

Sermon: Whatever you do… Scripture: Colossians 3:17,23-24 Speaker: Rob Lewis Description: We often think the work we do is just for money, or to provide for our families, but our daily work - no matter what "job" or "career" we have, is so much more.

Sermon: Heard and Healed Scripture: 2 Chronicles 30:17-23, 26-27 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: What happens when I want to follow Jesus, but I'm not sure how? If I don't get it right, will God (or the Church) reject me? A joyful Passover celebration where almost nothing went "by the book" offers a message of hope.

Sermon: Waiting On You Scripture: Waiting On You Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: One of the great prayers of the Church says, "Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray." We have been given incredible access to the God of the universe, and yet we find so many reasons not to take advantage of it. For this, we need to repent, but we can do so in joy.

Sermon: It's Not What It Looks Like Scripture: 1 John 3:18-24 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Have you ever seen a bad candid photo of yourself and thought, "Why did I make THAT face?!" The answer is that you likely didn't make that face, but rather you are looking at a moment of transition, and when isolated it can tell the wrong story. Life is full of these moments, when what others se...

Sermon: Why Belonging Breeds Joy Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Speaker: Amanda Stallard Description: We were created for belonging. From Genesis to Jesus (and beyond!), the Bible shows us time and again the ways that God has formed us for relationship- with God and with each other. In a time when we see increasing trends in autonomy and isolation, connection feels harder than ever. How do we u...

Sermon: What Makes the Church Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20 Speaker: Rev. Caitlin White Description: This Sunday, we'll explore the tension between legalism and love for the early church, and in Matthew's gospel, we'll see the presence of Jesus in our relationships and in the church.  How might our lives be changed if we become more aware of the presence of Christ in our midst?

Sermon: Forgiving Yourself Scripture: Genesis 32:9-32 Speaker: Rev. David Killingsworth Description:   Forgiveness isn't easy. Whether we are cut off in traffic or someone hurts us deeply, it can be hard to forgive others and work towards reconciliation. And as hard as it is to forgive others, it's oftentimes even harder to find forgiveness for ourselves. We know all of the faults and failures, an...

Sermon: More Than Just A Story Scripture: Matthew 20:1-15 (NRSV) Speaker: Ryan Ganaban Description: Stories are our primary way of meaning-making: they help us establish group identity, teach us valuable lessons, and affect the way we perceive the world. One translation of the scriptures professes that Jesus "was never without a story when he spoke." When we listen to the stories of Jesus, we are...

Sermon: The Faith to Stay in the Boat Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description:   We know that when we are in the midst of the inevitable storms of life, we are to place our faith and trust in Jesus. And in the story of Jesus walking on the water, we see Peter first succeeding and then failing to do the same in a raging storm. The point is often made that Peter was abl...

Sermon: From This Day Forward Scripture: Haggai 2:15-19 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: "The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second best time is now." This anonymous proverb speaks to the idea that we can never change the past, but we can make the right choice right now. Whether we are weighed down by sunk costs or paralyzed by the grief that comes with change, the grace...

Sermon: Knowing What To Look For Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: From hidden pictures to word searches to scavenger hunts, there's something fun about finding things that are hidden in plain sight. But they can be incredibly frustrating if you feel like you've looked everywhere and had no luck. The same can be said about looking for the presence and activity...

Sermon: Hospitality Is Worth It Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: True hospitality costs something. Sometimes it costs little and sometimes it asks a lot of us. This can lead us to start calculating whether it is worth it or not, overall or in each individual interaction. Through a famous parable, Jesus encourages us to see that hospitality is always worth...

Sermon: Hospitality Is Personal Scripture: Matthew 11:27-30 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Will Guidara co-owned and managed the top rated restaurant in the world. They had great food and an amazing space, but they set themselves apart and earned the honor for what he calls "unreasonable hospitality." The invitation Jesus makes to the world could also be called "unreasonable" when we c...

Sermon: Hospitality Is A Blessing Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: "We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen." This is the famous Ritz-Carlton motto that highlights the worth and value of both sides of the hospitality relationship between staff and guests. When we look at how Jesus called his disciples to live out hospitality in the world, we s...

Sermon: The God Who Whispers To Be Heard Scripture: Matthew 10:24-31 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: The world has never been louder. More and more voices demand our attention and it is easy to make any voice or message seem more authoritative than it actually is. God possesses a voice that can shake the heavens and the earth, yet sometimes God whispers to be heard.

Sermon: Two Laughs Scripture: Romans 5:1-8 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: When God tells 90-year-old Sarah that she will bear Abraham's long promised son, she laughs. It isn't a laugh borne out of humor; rather it is a weary and even bitter laugh. Yet in a year, Sarah would not only be laughing with joy but inspiring it in others. Today, we explore how we get from one laugh to the othe...

Sermon: You Have Been Good Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 Speaker: Rob Lewis Description: Jesus' calming of the storm is a great reminder of his goodness, that even though life's experiences may seem like he is asleep or unconcerned with our trials, he is still there, still in control, and still good.

Sermon: Stop, Look Around, and Remember Scripture: Numbers 11:24-30 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Numbers 11 is a chapter full of amnesia. God's people cannot seem to remember God's faithfulness to them. Moses has forgotten a key leadership lesson his Father-in-Law taught him. So, in the middle of the mess, God brings the Holy Spirit to remind them all of what they need to know.

Sermon: Fruit of the Earth, Work of Human Hands Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 Speaker:  Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: In communion, Jesus transforms bread and wine, which are themselves a transformation of wheat and grapes by human hands. Similarly on Pentecost, the disciples proclaim the Gospel, and God transforms their words into speech that could be understood by anyone. The work of ministry, to wh...