McGough's Ministry

"People don't care how much you know till they know how much you care." This phrase still rings true.  In 1 Corinthians, we encounter what has become known as "The Love Chapter." We hear throughout this text that love is an action verb, one lived out and shown. That all the things we, as the church, do mean nothing if they are not rooted in love. So maybe we need to start...

In John 3:14-21 we hear the very familiar text of John 3:16, but surrounding this text, we hear a call to walk and live in the light. To allow the light of Christ to shine on, in and through us  

In Genesis 33, we hear about an epic wrestling match. Jacob is wrestling with who he has been and what he has done, and he is also wrestling with the man he wants the world to believe he is.    In this text, we hear how God meets Jacob at the end of his rope, all alone in a dark night, and redeems him through his brokenness. God says you are called and created to be a victor through God's lov...

In a world where we are all seeking to be right. Where we view the other as our enemy or someone to be defeated, God says I won't play your game. Why?!? Because you are playing the wrong game. God calls us to lose self, to gain life 

In 1 John 4, we hear our call to love because God is love.  If we desire to share God with this world that is desiring connection and love, let us show them, God, by sharing LOVE 

In Matthew 16, we hear Jesus say that if you desire to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. While many of us are trying to make a life and name for ourselves, Jesus is saying to "Get A Life"  you must give it up     

In Acts 28 we hear the end of the epic story that is Acts in a fade-to-black moment. But the truth is the story is just be  beginning and challenging us to pick up the pen and write the next chapter

In Acts 27, we hear of a storm that comes up and how, amidst the storm, we are called to cling to the hope and faith that we belong to God and the best of all is God is with us   

In Acts 17, we hear Paul embracing the Common Ground with the people of Athens as he desires to introduce them to the "unknown" God. What would it look like if we sought community over conflict? I would dare say God could change our Common Ground to Holy Ground 

In Acts 16 we hear how Paul and Silas find themselves in a dark night but do not allow their circumstances to dictate their faith. Instead, Paul and Silas allow their memories of who God is and what God has done to shape their belief and trust that even amidst the dark night they know a bright morning is coming  

As we look at Acts 15, we see what happens when we begin to value rules over the ruler, uniformity over unity, and standardization over transformation. As we hear the call to not over complicate the Gospel but love God and neighbor as we seek to belong, not simply fit-in 

In Acts 14:8-20, we hear of a people that have fallen into the trap of trying to do enough to receive the god's favor. However, when Paul and Barnabas enter Lystra and perform miracles, they also provide the Good News that says you don't have to do enough. You are enough. This is a call to jump off the hamster wheel of trying to do enough but believing in God when he says you are enough....

In Acts 11:1-18, we hear how Peter, after his vision and interaction with Cornelius encounters persons who have listened to 2nd hand stories and half-truths. Challenged by these persons, Peter tells them the rest of the story, introducing more than their opinions and ideas and interjecting BUT GOD. Let's say to the rest of the story, as we live in a world of division and hate, let's add...

As we look at Acts 10, we hear that 2 visions point to the 1 VISION OF GOD for God's people. A vision that may challenge and stretch us beyond our comfort zone, but one that says ALL are loved and welcomed. Let the Holy Spirit call us to be greater than we are and to love bigger than we can fathom  

In today's sermon, we hear the continuation of the conversion of Saul, and we hear of THE OTHER ANANIAS and how he moves beyond every reason. He may not have done God's will. Ananias is obedient and faithful to God's call, and because of that, we see a ripple effect that is still impacting people today   

As we look at Saul on the road to Damascus, we hear how we can believe we are serving God, but what happens when God knocks you off your high horse   

As we hear the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the Church of Acts, we hear a call to not seek a longer life but a deeper one.  One rooted in love, mercy, grace, hope, joy, and God 

In Acts 5 we hear the story of Ananias and Sapphira, and how the danger of developing a MEology over a Theology can lead to a terrible place. Let us cast off our wants and desires, and our MEology and develop a deeper and more robust Theology

God desires to fulfill the need of our hearts to be made whole. However; too often we settle for the bare minimum that the world offers, instead of the totality of what God desires for us. As we look at Acts 3:1-10 let's expand our expectations, and desire more  

In Acts 2:42-47 we hear of an irresistible Curch that is Awe-full in unity. My hope is that we can reclaim this same sense of Awe-full unity in our Church this day 

As we look at Peter's Sermon in Acts 2 we hear him proclaiming that Jesus is the NEW King doing a New Thing, and the invitation to participate is to repent and redeem. 

In Acts 2 we hear a WEIRD story of Pentecost. We hear a call to go and share the love and grace that God shares with us with this world. It is a call that says LET'S GET WEIRD  

As we close out our journey in Exodus and prepare for the season of Pentecost we may find ourselves asking WHAT NOW? As we look at Exodus 17 and Acts 1 we see that the answer is the same, the next right thing

As we hear in Exodus 5 and 6 of Moses, and the Israelite's frustration and fear. We hear in Exodus 6:1-9 God proclaiming I AM and I WILL. Believe in me and that I am greater than the gods you focus on