McKendree UMC (Lawrenceville, GA)

Blessed are the meek...but does that mean doing nothing when someone is being hurt? Jesus has a better way in mind when he instructs us to turn the cheek and walk a second mile.

Matthew's gospel emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Torah. The first "book" opens with blessings for the humble, meek, and poor in spirit. It's all about relationships with God, others, and ourselves. Right relationships is the foundation of a blessed life.

When John baptizes at the Jordan River, he calls those who show up to repent, change their hearts (intentions). God wants more than sorry.

As we begin the New Year in the Gospel of Matthew, we look at what makes this gospel unique.

Pastor Paula Dallas. The Gospel story begins with two people, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who had reason to be weary.

Pastor Cyndi McDonald Colossians 4:2-6 Paul opens his letter to Colossae by describing his prayers for them, prayers that they will grow to live lives worthy of the grace they have received. Giving thanks is part of this process. But now, as the letter ends, he asks them to pray for him. They have a role to play in God’s story.

November 12, 2023 The life God wants us to put on in Colossians 3:12-17 seems so perfect. How do we allow God to bring about these changes within us?

On All Saints we give thanks for how we have seen the light of Christ revealed in the lives of our loved ones. In Christ, we are transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of God. We are transformed, and the transformation can begin in this

Colossians 2:6-7 Pastor Cyndi McDonald We continue to give thanks, because this practice and habit is part of how God is shaping us so that we are better able to live out God’s commands to love God and love our neighbors as ourself.

Giving thanks is intertwined with God’s transformation of us into God’s people. Yet in a world in which there is so much pain, is it appropriate to give thanks? Trusting God deeply is crucial to living an abundant life. However, having a wrong image of God can hinder this. For instance, if you perceive God as distant and uncaring, you may blame God when things go wrong or turn away under the assum...

Colossians 1:15-20 Dr. Dominic Lele In his letter to Colossian Christians, Paul describes Jesus as revealing the Image of God. This image helps us to understand more about God, and how people are created to be.

Pastor Paula Dallas introduces us to the setting for the book of Colossians. In his letter to Colossae, Paul addresses the question of identity. They are God’s holy people, faithful in Christ and loving. Faith and love are nourished by the hope they found in the gospel. Yet there is pressure on this church to keep hope. How can we be a people of hope and thanksgiving when it seems all is lost?

Pastor Cyndi preaches on 1 Corinthians 13: 35-42, 51-52. Through the ages Christians have trusted that God created this world, Jesus became incarnate and lived in this world. His resurrected body is the first fruit of creation. One day, the heavenly realm will become part of this world. We will be part of a new creation.

In this extended children’s sermon for Children’s Sabbath, Pastor Cyndi offers some explanation for unusual words in the Creed. Why keep on saying catholic when we know it means universal? How is the Holy Spirit related to saints (holy people)?

Serina Trueh preaches on the Holy Spirit, and how this has been part of her faith journey.

Why do many United Methodist churches omit this when saying the creed? And why did early Christians consider it an important part of the faith? The answer impacts how we live our faith today.

Luke 1: 26-38 Pastor Cyndi McDonald The Apostles’ Creed comes out of baptism in the early church. Why is it so important to have a second part, Jesus, to be born as a human?

The Apostles' Creed originates from baptisms in the early Christian churches. It's more than a doctrine, it's a commitment to trusting in the God who we have met in the story of our faith. This God is relational, as we see in descriptions of Father and Son. We are created in the image of a trinity, and we most look like God when in community.