Lakeside United Methodist Church

Sermon: For God Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: What do you get someone who has everything? Here's an even harder question: what do you get the One who literally made everything and gave it to you first? The answer: you give them the only thing they didn't give you. Sermon Series: What Do You Want For Christmas? Description: What do you actually want for Christmas...

Sermon: For Your Loved Ones Scripture: Romans 12:2-5, 9-12 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: The Christmas season can be so full of expectations - many of them unrealistic. We may flip through a magazine or scroll Instagram or Pinterest and wish we could duplicate what we see for our families. But, at the end of the day, is what you want for your loved ones this Christmas a perfectly clean...

Sermon: Growing in Faith by Asking Better Questions Scripture: Luke 20:27-40 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: A viral math problem, a YouTuber, and a long defunct religious group from Jesus' day help us understand the power of asking better questions.   Tuesday, November 1st  

Sermon:  A Debt of Gratitude Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: As we transition toward Thanksgiving, the topic of gratitude will start to show up more and more. Sometimes gratitude naturally pours out of us, and other times it must be a choice that we make or a discipline that we practice. And it is especially in those moments where we don't feel gra...

Sermon: Looking for a Savior Scripture: Joel 2:23-32 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Where is God when it feels like everything is going wrong? How do we find God when we have already looked in every place we usually find God? It may be time to check the unlikely places.

Sermon: But Now Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: The Church has the power to change the world. It doesn't naturally have this power; rather it is a result of God's intention to see God's kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. On Laity Sunday, we remember that when we talk about the Church, we are not speaking solely about an institution or spe...

Sermon: Perseverance Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Sprinting and marathons are both forms of running, but they require entirely different skill sets and training. And while there are certainly moments in life that feel like a sprint, far more of life is about mastering the long game. And if a church is going to experience renewal and revival and pass its speci...

Sermon: Sacrifice Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: As we learned last week, commitment is as much about saying "no" as it is saying "yes." And that means a second essential ingredient to the church's special sauce has to be sacrifice. And while this is an uncomfortable posture to take, the example all through the Scripture and especially in the life of Jesus is th...

Sermon: Commitment Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: It is telling when virtually every product or service on the market today includes in their marketing pitch: no contract, cancel anytime, free returns! And while we all celebrate no longer needing to lock in cable or cell phone plans for two years at a time, any relationship or organization of consequence requ...

Sermon: Forgetting and Remembering the Postures of Faith Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-14 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Every organization and institution that lasts more than one generation does so because they have a "special sauce." But the challenge they all face is that, over time, the recipe gets forgotten. If there is going to be renewal, it will take rediscovering what made them who...

Sermon: God Works All Things For Good Scripture: Romans 8:18-19, 23-28 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: An unlikely musical work called "The Disintegration Loops" became for many in New York the soundtrack of September 11, 2001. But rather than simply recalling the horror of the day, it became a source of hope. In an even greater way, the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in and th...

Sermon: Working Toward Clarity and Direction Scripture: Luke 12:32-34 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: In the quest to understand the kind of life that God wants us to live, we have looked at things that stand in the way: the mismatch between our priorities and actions, defining life by the wrong measure, and worry. Jesus ended last week's passage by telling us what we should be doing ins...

Sermon: Letting Go of Worry Scripture: Luke 12:22-31 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: When describing our ideal life, it probably doesn't include worrying. And yet, worry can be such a common experience that it is almost like a constant buzzing in the background that we just get used to. But Jesus is clear that worry is not a part of the life God wants us to lead, and he helps us understa...

Sermon: Defining Our Life By the Right Measure Scripture: Luke 12:13-21 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: In the quest for the good life, perhaps the most basic question that needs to be asked is: how do we measure the quality of our life? What goals are we chasing, and are they even the right ones? Because the right answer is never to win at the wrong game! Sermon Series: This Is Not The...

Sermon: Aligning the Inside and Outside of Our Life Scripture: Luke 12:1-12 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: We all have an interior and an exterior aspect to our life, and it is normal—and even good—that they aren't 100% identical. But are they compatible? No matter how good our life may look to the world around us, if who we are on the inside and outside are disconnected, there will eve...

Sermon:  The Joy of The Lord  Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-12 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Coming face-to-face with our own sin and failings can prompt quite a range of emotions. Certainly sadness, remorse, repentance are common, natural, and ultimately necessary. And hopefully, an understanding of the Gospel will also bring us joy and peace. But what is God's reaction to it all?

Sermon:  If You Get Lost, Find A Family  Scripture: Luke 15:11-24 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Getting lost is one of the most terrifying and disorienting experiences, especially for kids. Adding to the challenge of being lost is that not everyone around them may be a good or safe option for help. But a solid piece of advice for kids is also a great strategy for all of us when we feel...

Sermon: So Small Yet So Loved Scripture: Psalm 8 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Sometimes it is good to be reminded how incredibly small we are. That's exactly what happens when we put things in their proper perspective. But when we remember just how small we are, something strange happens: it magnifies how much God loves us.

Sermon:  So Far... Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 12:1-3 Speaker: Rob Lewis Description: Every once in a while, it's a good idea to take a pause in the journey, a time to catch one's breath and take stock of the view behind, and prepare for the road ahead.

Sermon: Finding God in the Small Steps Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19a Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: A few weeks ago, we said following Jesus involves taking the next faithful step - no matter how large or small. But often, when it seems like all we are taking is small steps, we can wonder if it is making any difference. Today's story shows us that small steps can lead to a big response fro...

Sermon: Good News for the Lonely Leader Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Elijah is one of the most famous and influential prophets in the whole Bible, repeatedly risking his life to speak the truth of God. And yet, despite his great reputation, Elijah was also a prophet who struggled, often feeling alone or even abandoned. A look at stories from the end of his li...

Sermon: Learning To Trust the Power of Jesus Scripture: Luke 8:26-39 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Jesus is immensely powerful. The Gospels report that he was able to do incredible things like calming storms, multiplying resources, healing, and casting out demons. At times, this power caused fear and confusion, even in his disciples! But what led them to keep following him was learning...

Sermon: Learning From the Wisdom of Coaches Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: The example of an athlete training for a competition was a common illustration used in ancient Greek and Roman times - amongst philosophers, politicians, and poets. It was also a favorite image of the Apostle Paul, but his application of it was different due to his perspective as...

Sermon: Following Jesus is Taking the Next Faithful Step Scripture: Acts 2:1-11 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: Pentecost Sunday is one of the "big" holidays in the Church - often recognized as the Church's birthday. It is also the beginning of what is known as "Ordinary Time" in the Church calendar. Today we explore the relationship between the ordinary and extraordinary, and how that s...

Sermon: Living Like It Is Real - Setting An Example Scripture: Acts 16:25-34 Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Description: If we live like Easter is real, it changes the way we see and act in the world. And when our lives are shaped by the truth and power of Easter, they become vehicles of the Gospel, allowing others to experience Easter as well. Sermon Series: Experiencing Easter Sermon Description:...