Sunday Sermons from Trinity UMC Lincoln, Nebraska

Join Pastor Tom as we talk about Running the Race on Sunday June 18, 2023.

Join Pastor Tom as we revisit Christmas in June this Sunday, June 11, 2023.

Join Pastor Tom in his sermon "Trinity Sunday: The Face of God" from June 4, 2023

Pentecost is a holiday equal with Christmas and Easter in the church, but many don’t realize it’s significant. Come celebrate with us and learn how the presence of the Holy Spirit adds so much to life!

Jesus did all those miracles. But that kind of thing doesn’t happen any more. Right? Don’t be so sure! Just because God’s work looks different than in Jesus’ day doesn’t mean it’s any less real. And even more interesting is HOW God’s work gets done.

Who does God care about? Everyone. Why is it so hard for us to do the same? Join us as we read a story of Peter in the Bible where God helped expand his circle of inclusion. Who do you have trouble loving? Maybe God will help you this week, too!

Ever wonder why some people stand taller than others in the face of struggle? This week we wrap up our series asking how we find God in the thick of things with one of the great passages of the Bible. You will leave standing tall because of God’s presence in whatever you may be facing!

Most of us would say we’d like to follow God’s plan for our life– but what is it? Truth is, most of us misunderstand what “God’s plan” even means. Yet, God calls us to play the starring role in writing the story of our lives, while walking along beside us in the beautiful work of co-creation. Join us as we learn to listen– and learn to follow– God’s very real presence in our lives!

We know God is good, but when illness and death rocks our world, it can be difficult to see. Sometimes, it even feels like unanswered prayer. Join us as we share our human struggles with God, asking for comfort, help, and healing. In the process, I think you’ll find that God is far more present in your struggle than you might think– and in ways you don’t expect.

Big question time: why is there so much evil and hate in the world? If God’s all powerful, why doesn’t God just stop it? This week we start a new series called “Why?” that asks this question and others like it. There are no perfect answers, but there are better ones than you might think. And the journey of finding them is one that opens our eyes to the very heart of God.

Join us as we celebrate Easter– the moment when God gave us a sneak peek of the way everything is being made new.

Here’s where it all goes down. We’ve followed Jesus from his birth at Christmas, through his ministry and teaching, and we all know what’s coming next. But first… bread and wine. Family, around the table. Join us as we shout “Hosannah!” Then, we delve into the most profound family meal in history, and we come to the table ourselves. There’s a seat with your name on it!

We all know there are big problems in the world. And we want to help! We even know Jesus is there when we do. But it’s so easy to overlook the small, everyday injustices that matter, too. Join us and learn how your kindness, no matter how small, can make a significant impact on the world!

AAAARGH! Ok, that wasn’t nice. But isn’t it true that life never goes how we expect? Yet somehow, when we look closely, God always brings good out of every twist and turn– even the negative ones. Join us as we hone our skills to notice the sacred good in WHATEVER comes next!

“The good life.” Sure. But what does that mean? Jesus said it like this: “The Kingdom of Heaven.” He didn’t mean what happens when you die, he’s talking about living a full life in Christ NOW. But just because Jesus invites everyone doesn’t meant that everyone responds! There’s no time like the present to accept the invitation to the life God made for YOU!

We often think of life as give-and-take, as earn-and-spend. But aren’t the best things in life more than that? For instance, don’t things like love or joy actually increase the more you give away? Join us as we do our best to live into “God’s economy.“ It’s a way of living where abundance and blessing always grow!

How’s your burden? I don’t mean how much stuff you carry in your bag, I mean your heart. We have such a tendency to let the pain of the past weigh us down in the present. Thankfully, Jesus gave us a process to help– he literally numbered the steps! Join us as we ask for God’s limitless grace to lighten our load!

Jesus knew things were going to get tough. He knew his disciples would need a powerful memory to hang on to. So he gave them one. Join us as we sit with one of the most amazing Jesus stories. It may be amazing, but it isn’t rare– by the time you leave, you may start seeing God everywhere!

Life is complex. Sometimes the good and the bad intertwine so much they can't be untangled. And we cannot overlook either. What are we to do? Jesus answered with a story– one that punches WAY above its weight. Join us as we wrestle with what to do with a morally complex world, and let Jesus guide us to a hopeful answer!

If I told you there was a religious teaching that has proven useful for at least 4,000 years— twice as far back as Jesus— would you listen? What if I told you Jesus gave it a super-subtle twist that makes it utterly world-changing? Join us as we dive in. Don’t wait for it to come to you— take the initiative!

How much stuff do you have? Does it make you happy? Most of us— maybe even ALL of us— answered “too much” and “not really.” Fortunately, Jesus offers a better way to live. He even says it in a way that is impossible to forget. Join us as we store up the RIGHT kind of treasure!

Ever try an unsalted french fry? This isn’t commentary on today ’s snacks at church, but rather about Jesus’ phrase, that we are to be “salt for the world.” Salt was used for so many things in Jesus’ day— you won’t believe how much those four words show us. If your life ever feels bland and barren, like an unsalted french fry, you won’t want to miss it!

We all wrestle. Even Jesus wrestled. Ever wonder WHAT Jesus wrestled with? Seeing what he struggled with is actually an interesting look into what he cares most about, what really matters to him. (...what do YOU wrestle with?)

There are so many fresh starts in a new year, but who’s asking WHY? Who are you becoming? What are you called to in life? What are we trying to accomplish with all our fresh starts?

Join Eduardo Bousson for worship this Sunday