Pea Ridge UMC Sermon

It is Ascension Sunday, which is the day the church celebrates Jesus' ascension to the right hand of the Father. This week's sermon looks at Jesus' pastoral prayer of John 17:6-19. Rev. Shannon Blosser looks at the meaning of the prayer, and how Jesus prays for his disciples to be faithful as a church.

Today's sermon comes from Acts 10:34-48. Rev. Shannon Blosser details the story of Peter's engagement with Cornelius and how it connects to the recently completed UMC General Conference. He says that the kind of church we are called to be is the one that makes room for everyone.

This week's sermon comes from John 15:1-8. It is the story of Jesus identifying himself as the vine and those who follow him as the branches. Rev. Shannon Blosser talks about what this means for us, and how true fruit that changes the world only comes through a life in Christ.

This week's sermon is based on 1 John 3:16-24. Rev. Shannon Blosser talks about the nature of love and how it must be costly for it to be truly sacrificial and servant-based.

Today's sermon is based on Luke 24:36-49. Rev. Shannon Blosser talks about how the resurrected Jesus met the disciples in their woundedness and called them to experience Christ in a new way. He also says Christ invites us, in our emotional pain, to see Jesus as the source of hope.

It is Resurrection Sunday! Our sermon podcast today features our choir director, Emily Cloer, leading us in a special song. Rev. Shannon Blosser follows with a sermon based on Mark 16:1-8. He talks about how Jesus's resurrection is the victory over death, the meaning of death, and how we are called to tell the story of the resurrection today. Our podcast concludes with our choir singing the Ha...

Today is Palm Sunday. Our worship is focused on the events at the Mount of Olives. We do so through a reading from Mark 11:1-11 and a reading from Luke 22:39-46. Rev. Shannon Blosser looks at Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and how we are often uncomfortable with it. He talks about how Jesus shows us the way of obedience through our weaknesses.

It is the Fifth Sunday in Lent and St. Patrick's Day. Our weekly podcast begins with Emily Cloer singing a special song for the day. Following that, Rev. Shannon Blosser shares a sermon on Matthew 7:13-14. He looks at Jesus' contrast between the broad and narrow path and how the choices we make impact the path that we are on.

Today's sermon continues our sermon series "Why Did Jesus Say That." First up, though, is Edna Cole singing "This is My Father's World." Afterward, Rev. Shannon Blosser preaches from Matthew 7:21-23. He looks at Jesus' statement of "I don't know you" and examines what Jesus desires for us to know him.

It's the Third Sunday of Lent. Our sermon series "Why Did Jesus Say That" continues with a look at Mark 10:17-23. In the passage, Jesus tells the rich young man to "go, sell your possessions." Rev. Shannon Blosser looks at what the statement means for the rich man and us. He asks us to consider what things we might be holding onto that prevent us from growing in Christ.

We continue our series "Why Did Jesus Say That" by looking at Matthew 5:43-48. There we see Jesus call us to love our enemies. Rev. Shannon Blosser takes a look at the what it means to love and how that can be applied to those who are like an enemy to us.

This week is the First Sunday of Lent, and the start of our sermon series called "Why Did Jesus Say That." Each week in Lent, Rev. Shannon Blosser will examine Jesus' teachings that we have a hard time following today. This week, we look at Matthew 5:38-42 and Jesus' words about giving someone our other cheek when wronged.

Today marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. On this Ash Wednesday, Rev. Shannon Blosser offers a message from Matthew 6:1-6. He talks about Jesus' usage of the word "hypocrisy," and how it is a call for us to examine our actions and motives in serving God.

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. It is a day set aside to remember Jesus' glory being revealed to Peter, James, and John. Our sermon comes from Mark 9:2-9, and the story of the transfiguraton. Rev. Shannon Blosser focuses on the phrase "listen to him" and how we are called to listen to Jesus' message of self-sacrificial obedience to God.

This week's sermon comes from Mark 2:1-12. Rev. Shannon Blosser takes a narrative look at the story of the paralyzed man healed by Jesus. He looks at the people in the story and asks us to imagine who we might be. He says no matter where we are in the story, we find Jesus offering grace to all.

It is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany! Our sermon comes from Mark 1:21-28. The story involves Jesus' interaction with a man who was consumed by an evil spirit. Rev. Shannon talks about how Jesus has the power and authority to confront sin and evil, and we are called to participate in the work of Christ in the evil we experience today.

It's cold and snowy outside, so we worshiped completely online today. Our podcast includes our sermon from Mark 1:14-20. Rev. Shannon Blosser offers some thoughts on what it means to follow Jesus. Afterward, he shares an announcement regarding a pastoral transitional at Pea Ridge UMC.

It is the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. This week we dive into the Old Testament and the story of Samuel and Eli through 1 Samuel 3:1-20. Rev. Shannon Blosser looks how they needed each other to hear from God, just as we need each other today.

Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday! Our sermon comes from Mark 1:4-11. In it, Rev. Shannon Blosser focuses on Jesus being called the "beloved" after the baptism. He reflects on what it would mean to recapture the sense that we are worthy of love simply for being a child of God.

It's New Year's Eve and the First Sunday of Christmas! Today our sermon comes from Luke 2:21-38. Rev. Shannon Blosser looks at the example of Simeon and Anna in their witness of Christ's presence. He says the aspects of their witness are a model for how we are called to share God's love today. Pea Ridge UMC is located in Huntington, WV. You can learn more by visiting pearidgeumc.or...

It is Christmas Eve and the Fourth Sunday of Advent. For our morning worship, we conclude our Advent series "Untold Stories" by looking at the shepherds of Luke 2:8-11. Rev. Shannon Blosser says they are representative of how God meets ordinary people with the Lord's presence and calls us to share the good news of hope with all.

It's the Third Sunday of Advent! Our worship podcast includes our Christmas Cantata, led by our choir director, Emily Cloer. Following the Cantata, Rev. Shannon Blosser shares on Matthew 2:9-12. He talks about how the magi's importance is not about the gifts they give, but about who is included in the Nativity story.

Our "Untold Stories" series continues this week with an unlikely focus on King Herod. Rev. Shannon Blosser says that every good story has a villain, and King Herod fits the billing for the Nativity Story. At the same time, he says there is something within King Herod's actions that we must understand to appreciate the story of Jesus' birth. Pea Ridge UMC is located in Huntington,...

Today is the First Sunday of Advent! As we reflect on hope, our worship is centered on Luke 1:5-25 and the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. First, our choir sings "The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands." After that, Rev. Shannon Blosser begins our Advent sermon series, "Untold Stories." The series will focus on characters of the Nativity story who are often overlooked o...

Sunday was Christ the King Sunday. It is a day set aside to reflect upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In this week's sermon, Rev. Shannon Blosser examines Jesus' lordship through Matthew 25:31-46. He shares how Jesus lives out his lordship, and how we are called to live out our faith by identifying ourselves with the marginalized and forgotten. Pea Ridge UMC is located in Huntington, W.Va...