Sermon-Cast by Wesley UMC

Luke 9:28-34 (NLT) About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.   And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus.   They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfil...

Guest speaker Brandon Tolle brought us this week's message. Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NRSV) Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals     and make mere flesh their strength,     whose hearts turn away from the Lord. 6 They shall be like a shrub in the desert,     and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,     in an uninhabited salt la...

Today was Mission Sunday at Wesley UMC. Here is a replay of a previous sermon from November 24, 2024

Matthew 13:31-32 (NLT) Here is another illustration Jesus used:  "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.   It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."

Matthew 13:24-30 (NLT) Here is another story Jesus told:  "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.   But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.   When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. "The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good...

Matthew 13:18-23 (NLT) "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:   The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.   The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it w...

Luke 3:10-22 (NLT) The crowds asked, "What should we do?" John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?" He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires." "What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort m...

Luke 2:41-52 (NLT) Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.   When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first,   because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn't show up that evening, t...

Luke 2:21-38 (NLT) Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. 22  Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23  The law of the Lord says, "If a woman's first child is a boy, he mu...

This message was recorded from our Christmas Eve Service 2024 at Wesley UMC in Macon, GA Luke 2:1-20 (NLT) At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.   2  (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   3  All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.   4  And because Joseph was a d...

Luke 1:46-56 (NLT) Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47       How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,      and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49  For the Mighty One is holy,      and he has done great things for me. 50  He shows mercy from generation to generation      to all who fear him. 51  His mighty arm has...

Guest Speaker Al Copp brought us this week's message Joshua 4:1-9 (NIV) When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan,the Lord said to Joshua, 2  "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3  and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where...

Joel 2:12-13, 28-29 (NLT) That is why the Lord says,      "Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts.      Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief,      but tear your hearts instead." Return to the Lord your God,      for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.      He is eager to relent and not pun...

Daniel 6:19-27 (NLT) Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions' den. 20  When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?" 21  Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22  My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I ha...

1 Peter 2:9-12 (NLT) But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10  "Once you had no identity as a people;      now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy;      now you have received God's mercy...

1 Corinthians 12:4-12 (NLT) There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6  God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7  A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8  To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give...

2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NLT) Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everyt...

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, 22  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our...

Luke 11:1-4 (NLT) Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2  Jesus said,  "This is how you should pray: "Father, may your name be kept holy.      May your Kingdom come soon. 3  Give us each day the food we need, 4  and forgive us our sins,      as we forgive those who sin agai...

1 Kings 17:1-16 (NLT)  Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, "As surely as the  Lord , the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!" 2  Then the  Lord  said to Elijah,   3  "Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.   4  Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens b...

Mark 10:46-52 (NLT) Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.   47  When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48  "Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son...

Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Mike Bankston brought us this week's message.  

Matthew 10:40-42 (NLT) "Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.   If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my fo...

  Matthew 10:34-39 (NLT) "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35  'I have come to set a man against his father,      a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36   Your enemies will be right in your own household!' 37  "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of bein...

Matthew 10:26-33 (NLT) "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27  What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28  "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; the...