Richland Center Free Methodist Church

A nation can celebrate a milestone with fireworks, flags, and parades, but anniversaries also invite reflection. As America marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the question is not only what has been accomplished, but what kind of people we are becoming. Long before nations debated liberty and justice, God had already revealed what He desires from those who bear Hi...

Every day we pledge our loyalty to something. It may be a nation, a cause, a career, or even the expectations of others. Those commitments shape our decisions, influence our priorities, and reveal where our deepest trust truly rests. When competing voices call for our allegiance, where do we turn? Psalm 33 points beyond human strength and earthly powers to the Lord, whose word is true, whose purpo...

Families are built through countless moments of guidance, sacrifice, patience, and love. Yet every parent knows the tension of giving freedom while hoping their children choose wisely. Every child, no matter their age, knows the impact a parent’s influence can have on their life. In the Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus paints a picture of a father whose love remains steady through disappointment, re...

Expectations can shape the way we see everything. Some are built on hope, others on disappointment, and many are shaped by what we’ve heard from others. When the first disciples encountered Jesus, they came with questions, curiosity, and their own ideas about what the Messiah would be like. What they found was far greater than they expected. In John 1:35–51, Jesus invites ordinary people into an e...

Before there were witnesses, signs, sermons, or songs, there was the Word. John opens his Gospel by taking us back before creation itself, showing us that Jesus did not simply appear in history; He is the eternal Word through whom all things were made, the source of life and light. John the Baptist came as a witness, pointing beyond himself so that others might believe. In John 1:1-9, we are remin...

Who is Jesus, and why did He come? John does not begin with a manger scene or a genealogy, but with eternity itself: “In the beginning was the Word.” Before creation, before history, before we could reach toward God, the Son was already with God and was God. In John 1:1–14, we see the wonder of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Jesus is the light shining into darkness, the Creator ent...

A crowd gathers in Jerusalem for Pentecost, expecting the familiar rhythm of an ancient feast. Then the sound of a rushing wind fills the house, tongues of fire rest on the believers, and people from many nations hear the good news of Jesus in their own languages. This is not confusion, but fulfillment. The crucified and risen Jesus has poured out the Holy Spirit, and the call is clear: repent, be...

Some people leave a mark and then fade into history. Others are remembered because their words still carry weight. But Jesus did more than leave behind a teaching or a movement. After the cross, He kept showing up, alive, seen, and recognized by those who knew Him. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Paul reminds the church that the gospel rests on real events: Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raise...

There are moments when someone places trust in your hands and steps back so you can carry something forward. A parent teaching a child to pray before bed. A grandmother showing patience through years of hardship. A mentor quietly living out faith in everyday choices. The baton is rarely passed with fanfare. More often, it happens in kitchens, conversations, long car rides, and ordinary acts of fai...

When life is easy, we forget to pray. When life hurts, we wonder if God is listening. James calls believers to turn to God in every season, whether we are suffering, singing, sick, or wandering. In James 5:13-20, we see a church family that prays, confesses sin, seeks healing, and gently pursues those who drift from the truth. God invites us to face Him honestly right where we are, trusting that H...

Anxiety can creep in quietly or crash in without warning. It can settle into the mind during sleepless nights, uncertain seasons, or moments when life feels heavier than we expected. Many carry silent burdens—concerns about family, health, finances, or the future—wondering how to find steady ground when everything feels unsettled. In this message, JoAnn Krulatz will walk through what Scripture tea...

There are moments when prayer feels honest, urgent, and unanswered. You ask God for help, healing, clarity, or change, and the silence can feel heavy. In those times, it is easy to wonder whether God is listening, whether you are praying the right way, or why the answer has not come. James speaks directly to the tension of asking God while facing trials, reminding us that wavering, doubt, and wear...

Every part of the body matters, even the parts that are easy to overlook. When one part is weak, hurting, or hidden from view, the whole body feels it. In a world that often celebrates the most visible gifts, it is easy to forget how much strength, care, and purpose are found in each person God has placed among His people. In 1 Corinthians 12:22-31, we're reminded that the church was never meant t...

There are moments in life when we look back on great sorrow and wonder how we would have responded if we had been there. At the cross, the noise of the crowd, the weight of rejection, and the silence of suffering all press in with one question: where would we stand? In Isaiah 53, we see the suffering servant who was despised, pierced, and crushed, yet willingly carried the sin and grief of others....

As the crowd lined the streets with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna," a group of Greeks approached the disciples and asked: “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” This simple request triggers a shift from the public spectacle of the Triumphal Entry to the personal necessity of beholding Christ for who He truly is. While the Pharisees watched in frustration, noting that "the whole world has gone a...

Waiting can feel long when the outcome is uncertain. A farmer plants the seed, works the soil, and then watches the sky, knowing the crop depends on rain that has not yet come. Seasons like that test our patience and reveal what we truly trust. In James 5:7–12, James points to the patience of the farmer and the endurance of the prophets as examples for believers. Instead of grumbling or giving in...

Most of us spend our lives trying to stay in the driver’s seat, carefully planning our "tomorrows" and managing our own outcomes, but this Sunday we explore a different way of living. Picking up in James 4:1-17, we’re looking at what happens when we finally stop fighting for control and start leaning into God’s grace. True submission isn't about losing your identity, but rather about finding your...

We’ve all heard the old advice: “If you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything at all”. This Sunday at Richland Center Free Methodist Church, Pastor Tim explores the heart behind that sentiment in a message titled “Overcoming a Critical Spirit”. Drawing from James 4:1-12, we look at how the root of all sin is ultimately self. When we find ourselves in fights or quarrels, James...

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness." — James 3:9 This Sunday, Pastor Tim Ward explores one of the most practical and challenging passages in the New Testament: James 3:1-12. We’re looking at why such a small part of our body has such a massive impact on our lives and our relationships. Whether you’re looking to fi...

Faith can feel strong in the quiet moments—during prayer, in worship, or while reading Scripture. But when life demands action, when obedience costs something, or when someone needs help right in front of us, belief is tested. Words are easy. Action requires trust.  In James 2:14–26, we are confronted with a faith that moves. James points to Abraham and Rahab as examples of trust expressed through...

Walk into almost any gathering, and it doesn’t take long to notice how quickly we size people up. Who seems important, who feels comfortable, who gets noticed, and who fades into the background. These moments may feel small and even unintentional, but they shape the way communities function and who feels like they belong. In James 2:1–13, James speaks directly to favoritism in the church, calling...

Most of us have heard God’s Word many times. We know the verses, we recognize the language, and we’re familiar with what Scripture says. But hearing alone isn’t the goal. James reminds us that God’s Word is meant to shape how we live, not just what we know. In James 1:19–27, we’re challenged to move beyond listening and into obedience. This sermon follows James’ clear progression: hearing God’s Wo...

Not every struggle comes from pressure outside of us. Sometimes the danger is quieter and closer—desires that take shape in the heart long before they show up in our actions. What begins as a passing thought can slowly gain influence, shaping choices we never planned to make. In James 1:13–18, James shifts the focus from enduring hardship to examining where temptation truly comes from. He makes a...

Few things test our faith like seasons we didn’t choose. Trials have a way of showing up unannounced—through loss, pressure, uncertainty, or waiting longer than we expected. In those moments, joy often feels out of reach, and endurance can feel thin. In James 1:2–12, we’re invited to see trials differently—not as interruptions to faith, but as places where God is actively at work. How is persevera...

Worry has a way of creeping into everyday life. It shows up in unanswered questions, uncertain futures, and the quiet pressure to hold everything together. Even moments meant for joy can feel crowded out by anxiety and restlessness. In Philippians 4:4–9, Paul writes from prison yet calls believers to rejoice, pray, and guard their hearts and minds in Christ. Joy is not rooted in circumstances; pra...