Sermon Central

Following Jesus involves the sometimes difficult and painful process of opening up—transforming from being turned inward in self-absorption to being turned outward in love and service. It doesn’t mean sacrificing to the detriment of ourselves, but it means putting ourselves with others—not thinking of ourselves as apart from, but connected with others and our whole world.

Humanity’s “dominion” or “rule” over creation is not a right, entitling us to do whatever we wish with creation. Rather, it’s a responsibility to manage and care for all of God’s creation just as God would, to the very best of our ability. Rights look inward—what can I get? What am I entitled to? Where responsibilities look outward—how can I best care for or be in community with that which is arou...

In virtually every transformative movement in human history – the abolitionist movement against slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, the movements for women’s suffrage, labor protections, the list goes on – in each of these cases, people of faith have been at the center of the action. Catalysts. Laborers. Visionaries. And now, as we confront what is arguably the greatest challenge in human history,...

Throughout Lent, we’ve learned about our own faith journeys as we’ve learned from the life and faith of the disciple Peter. We’ve watched as Peter dropped his nets to follow Jesus; trusted Jesus enough to step out of the boat and walk on water towards Jesus; professed his faith by declaring Jesus the Messiah—the one the Jewish people were waiting for; and then was rebuked by Jesus for not understa...

On this Palm Sunday, we are invited to think about what kind of king we're looking for in Jesus. Do you have the courage to say “I love you,” to this Jesus? A king of compassion and God’s justice—of God’s Truth and Love?

In Peter, we often see ourselves—someone who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. Someone who loves Jesus with all his heart, and struggles at the same time.

This coming week, I challenge you to be mindful of the ways you’re clinging and fixating on “what you know to be true” and missing God’s bigger truth. How might it feel to release your grip, and follow God into the unknown?”

our series is titled “Wandering Heart.” We are studying the faith journey of the disciple Peter, and connecting that with the lyrics of the hymn “Come Thou Fount.” So to set the stage, we’re going to be singing “Come Thou Fount” each Sunday. If you’ve been around the Church a while, it might sound a little different than you’re used to, but the message is still the same and so is spirit behind it.

As a new disciple, perhaps Peter wants to prove himself. Boldly, in the middle of a storm, Peter steps out of the boat to join Jesus who is walking on top of the waves. He, too, walks on water until the wind shakes his trust and he begins to sink. Many of us know what it feels like to be thrown off balance, to feel as if we’re sinking. Maybe this looks like doubt, unexpected change, too-busy seaso...

This Lenten season—these 40 days leading to Easter—we are going to focus on the life and faith of Peter. After Jesus, he is the most frequently mentioned individual in the Gospels and New Testament. He is a consistent presence throughout Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Pe...

As we close out this series on living out our faith, may this story of Eutychus and the early church remind us that our journeys are not linear and that living in faith looks different, depending on the situation and time of our life. People do fall, and when they do, we as a community of faith are called to sit with them, celebrate their life, and be God’s loving presence.

"How often do we underestimate someone—assume that they don’t have something valuable to share because they’re too young, not the right gender, too old, not educated enough, not wearing the right clothes, their skin is too dark, or they have an accent. I would wager that at any point in time, this has happened to each one of us… and we’ve done this to many other people. In life, we have a choice:...

Faces of Our Faith: Joseph of Aramathea by BrecksvilleUMC

I don’t know about you, but even in situations that are far less stressful than imminent war and oppression, I forget to turn to God first for guidance and comfort. Of course, I eventually go to God, but first on the list might be Google, or worrying about it for a while, or trying to figure out how I can carry the burden on my own. But those times when I remember to pause, and center myself in Go...

So as we begin 2024, we’re going to reflect on 6 stories of regular folks, who are often overlooked in our biblical narratives. We’ll dig deep into their worlds, entering their stories with curiosity, opened to what they might teach us about living out our faith here and now. My hope is that these people’s stories will help us to see how God is calling each of us to participate in God’s story of r...

Today we begin a new worship series, entitled “Faces of Our Faith.” So often when we gather together, we talk about the heroes of our faith—those well-known names of people in scripture we admire and wish to emulate: Moses, Jesus, Mary, Paul… But scripture is filled with ordinary people, too. People who go about their day-to-day lives, and then suddenly are confronted with a situation in which the...

We are on the precipice of a new beginning. Tomorrow begins a new year: 2024—and what if rather than thinking “new year, new you!” We settle into our belovedness?

On the third Sunday of Advent, we lean into joy and the power of paying attention and being amazed.

Holding one another’s joy in the midst of weariness is one way that our weary world can rejoice.

It’s important to acknowledge our grief. To acknowledge our weariness and feelings of hopelessness. To name them and honor them. Otherwise, they can overwhelm us or even paralyze us.

Our English word dynamite comes from the Greek word, dunamis. In the New Testament, dunamis describes the supernatural, resurrection power of God’s Spirit that broke into the world not only at Jesus’ resurrection, but again and again throughout the New Testament, transforming peoples’ lives. In this devotional, Sue Nilson Kibbey and Rosario Picardo challenge us to open ourselves to God’s dunamis S...

Our English word dynamite comes from the Greek word, dunamis. In the New Testament, dunamis describes the supernatural, resurrection power of God’s Spirit that broke into the world not only at Jesus’ resurrection, but again and again throughout the New Testament, transforming peoples’ lives.

It’s our default to put barriers on what an “answered prayer” looks like. We have a certain vision or outcome in mind, and so when God doesn’t answer our prayer in that specific way, we think God hasn’t answered at all. When maybe God has answered our prayer, but answered differently.

Lifting up specific people and situations to God in prayer is important. And it’s equally important to see prayer as an opportunity to open ourselves to God’s dynamite power, inviting God’s new possibilities to break through into our lives.

Grace is "the undeserved, loving action of God in our lives. Grace is God's presence in our lives that is creating, healing, forgiving, reconciling, and transforming our hearts, communities, and all of creation.