Russellville United Methodist Temple Sermons

Christians have long anticipated the return of Jesus to make all things new in one final victory over sin and death. What's more is we anticipate that he's coming soon. While that can bring great hope for our renewal and resurrection, it can make us anxious as we share the gospel because none of us have unlimited time on earth. Today, we'll deal with the tension of urgency to share the...

When sharing our faith, we often make the mistake of talking just to talk. Rather than sharing our story in a way that makes sense to others, we veil it in religious language that non-Christian people may not relate to. How can we be more considerate as we share the gospel, and how can we avoid using religious language to push people toward a disingenuous decision?

Modern culture, especially in American Evangelical spaces, places high value on being loud, outgoing, extroverted, and exuberant when we declare the gospel. However, the same scripture that tells us to unashamedly declare the gospel also tells us to lead a quiet life and mind our business. This is great because introverted people exist, too. How can we both be bold in sharing our stories and conte...

Paul describes himself as becoming "all things to all people," but how can one person make themselves so popular or even palatable? We may not relate to everyone on every level, but we can explore common human experiences shared by everyone as we seek to understand and love one another as we share the gospel.

The Pharisees focused so much on outward appearances that Jesus said that it would be their reward. However, Jesus calls us to not flaunt our religiosity, which is very different from the way even modern church culture tells us to do ministry. How can we keep ourselves from obsessing over public image while remaining present in the world we're called to love like Jesus does?

While we each have a story to tell, wherever we go, our actions tell their own story. When we act in love as we are called, it makes what we believe actually believable. When we don't, we give people reasons to run away. Today, we'll discuss what it means when we struggle to act in accordance with our faith and how we can make sure a good reputation precedes us.

We often reminisce about eras in which the gospel spread more quickly and people were more passionate about it. While we may be tempted to think that our predecessors were better or more spiritual than us, we are no less human than they were, and God will use us just as powerfully as we trust him to go before us.

As Jesus prepares for the events of the crucifixion and resurrection, he tells his disciple a lot of unbelievable things. He talks about making mansions in heaven, but he also tells his disciples that they will do greater things than He (Jesus) has. We will unravel how any human being could possibly do greater things than the sage, healer, and resurrected Christ.

Jonah ran from his calling to tell the Ninevites the good news of God's mercy because he didn't want his enemies to experience it. Is part of our fear of telling our stories rooted in fear, maybe even hatred of our real and perceived enemies?

We cannot follow the calling of God, to love the world the way he does, until we acknowledge the parts of our story we're ashamed of.

While the scale of the story of Pentecost may not be common, we have access to the same principles and Spirit to drive us to spread the gospel on any scale.

Too often, we assume we have to force ourselves to spread the gospel when it is just a matter of paying attention to the Spirit of God moving both within and around us.

Progress and growth in ministry can be slow, but it is a promise for all who are led by the Spirit, even if it takes time or looks different than we expect.

Jesus left us with a mission: to testify of what Jesus has done for us all. However, we often misunderstand the nature of the mission. By examining what Jesus said and did when he ascended, we can see that he gave us everything we need to succeed at fulfilling his mission.

Being loved by Jesus will cause us to love like he did. In following him, Peter would lose his life just the same. While he wondered how his story would end, Jesus reminded him that all we need concern ourselves with is our own faithfulness to the calling to love as he loved.

The love Jesus gave us was not meant for us alone but for everyone we come into contact with. Jesus' words to Peter help emphasize this calling that all believers have.

With All Our Doubts John 20:24-31 NASB

Easter Sunday

The brutal, unjust execution of Jesus was the culmination of the love he had for us all, even while we were sinners, giving us an example for how we must love one another.

Maundy Thursday - On the night Jesus was betrayed.

The love poured out on Jesus by those who celebrated his arrival in Jerusalem barely lasted the week. He empathizes deeply with us for how fleeting human love can be, but his love far surpasses what we could ever offer.

When we are united in love, the world will be able to tell that Jesus is truly from God. When we face the opposition of the world and are triggered to participate in its division, we must call on the supernatural love in the Holy Trinity, which Jesus has given to us.

Jesus warned that following him in this world will bring pain in life. However, the good news is that the Holy Spirit has declared judgment on the demonic forces that cause the pain of sin in the world.

Jesus begins to tie his full message together by calling his disciples into his own calling. While he is the only one whose cross defeats sin and death, we are called to lay down our lives for love just like he did.

While we look to the teachings of Jesus to guide our lives, we often forget that the presence and comfort of God are available because the Holy Spirit lives in us. When we feel confusion, distress, and loneliness, we can count on the Holy Spirit to keep us following Jesus when it is most difficult.