The Grove Church / Dallas, Texas

In the 1739, John Wesley penned an open letter to his Methodist societies that proposed three rules that all society members should live by. Now famously called The General Rules, these three rules have become part of Methodist life and practice for the last 200 years. Rev. Allie Shulman explains how "the rules" might be more than a disciplinary tool and may include an invitation to something more...

United Methodists have been officially ordaining women since 1956, but Wesley's followers have long had a tradition of allowing women to preach and serve as leaders in their church communities. When majority of the Christian world does not allow female pastors, why do we? In this sermon, Rev. Allie Shulman explores the reasons Methodists empower and ordain women to take on leadership in the church...

This week, we transition in our Roots sermon series to talk about how Methodist beliefs impact Methodist practices. What makes Methodists unique in the wide world of Christianity? First up, we talk about Wesley's concept of "the means of grace." Means of grace are reliable means through which we experience God. The Lord's Supper is a primary means of grace, both for Wesley and for us modern-day Me...

In our contemporary world, navigating truth and moral guidance can seem like a complicated labyrinth. Can I define my own truth? Can my truth differ from yours? And how can Christians find clear direction in a world increasingly marked by relativism and pluralism? In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares a framework that might act as a compass to navigate this labyrinth of uncertainty and help...

Our beliefs about God carry significant weight in our lives. Is God a stern judge waiting for us to mess up? Or perhaps a distant figure wanting only our happiness? These views can lead to confusion about how to live and connect with God. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer invites us to a deeper understanding of a more relatable and inspiring image of God and unpacks what this means for our dai...

From an outsider's perspective, the sins, moral failures, and wrongdoings of Christians are disturbing and revoltingly hypocritical. Does this mean we should give up on Christianity completely? In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer challenges this perspective. He unveils the true, irresistible nature of the Christian life - the promise of genuine holiness, a life journey that goes beyond our human...

"Having the form of religion without the power" comes from John Wesley, who warned of what would happen to the Methodist movement if it failed to hold fast to three core commitments. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares these three essentials that can bring God's Spirit, power, and vitality back into the church and our lives. 

Acts 2 tells an incredible story of fire and tongues and mass conversions. Sometimes it is pretty easy to dismiss as a historical event that has nothing to do with us. But what if the Spirit is not just for the disciples? What if it is for us, too? This Pentecost Sunday, Rev. Allie Shulman explores what it means to recognize and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit working within us. 

Living in a constant hurry, we're swept up in the rush of obligations and daily concerns. This rush causes us to ignore our limits at the expense of our well-being. This neglect can also lead us away from what truly matters in our lives... our relationship with God.  In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shows us how recognizing the importance of our limits isn't just about living according to arb...

We live in a culture that continually tells us to pursue a higher standard of living in order to improve our quality of life. But "standard of living" and "quality of life" aren't the same thing. One has to do with the stuff we accumulate. The other is about the peace we experience regardless of our circumstances. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shows us how our pursuit of a standard of livi...

In the midst of evil, violence, and fear, how do we, as Christians, stand firm in our faith? In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer addresses where Christians can find hope and how we can be hope for a hurting world.

We're all busy. Our schedules are packed with career, family, friends, and other responsibilities. Sometimes our days are so full that we don't enjoy anything because we're trying to do everything. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shows us how our relationship with God and with others benefits when we create breathing room in our schedules.

Relationships can often be the barometer for how much margin we have in our lives (or how much we need). When our lives are packed, overstuffed, with no breathing room, relationships are often the first thing that suffers. How do we create space to maintain strong, healthy relationships? Rev. Allie Shulman discusses some strategies on how to find room for relationships. 

Ever feel like you can't catch your breath? Our lives are busy and fast-paced. The lack of margin increases our stress and shortens our tempers. It can distract us from the most important things in our lives... and our relationships suffer. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares how we can find Breathing Room in our life.

There is an abrupt ending to the Gospel of Mark. It's a puzzling conclusion with no reunion between Jesus and his disciples. But what if this enigmatic conclusion is not an ending at all but, instead, a promising new beginning? In a captivating Easter sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares a message brimming with hope for every story.

When you find yourself bound by the chains of addiction, where do you turn to for release? In this sermon, Rand Carlson shares a personal message of hope found in the person and power of Jesus.

How badly do we want Jesus to restore clarity and wholeness to our lives? Are we willing to embarrass ourselves, break social norms, or fight to receive our sight? In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shows us the way to recognize and heal the spiritual blindness we struggle with.

In the Gospel of Mark, the good news of Jesus is a call to faithful discipleship in the face of hardship, suffering, and death. “Whoever wants to be my disciple,” Jesus says, “must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer challenges us to ask, "what does this look like for Christians today?"

In Mark's famous story, Jesus calms the raging storm with the words, "Silent! Be still!". While this could be read as a simple miracle story, it reveals much more about our own fear in trying times and where to put our faith. Rev. Allie Shulman preaches on Mark 4:35-41.

For 1st-century Christians, hardship was all around them - suffering and death were dispensed freely by the Roman empire. It's against this backdrop that Mark pens his good news. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares the significance of the opening words of the Gospel of Mark and how they can lead us to follow Jesus.

New findings in neuroscience provide tools to help us experience transformation. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares how we can break the pattern of sin and shame in our life.

Everyone is wired for love differently. This is most apparent in our closest relationships. And while love isn't an inexact science, there is a way to discover how you and they are wired differently that can help you overcome your differences and create a lasting connection. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares how we can better understand our unique wiring and learn how to create relation...

Last week, in the Science of the Soul series, we learned about "flipping our lid"- those times when we just lose our mind. How do we change that, and how do we acquire the mind of Christ? In this sermon, Rev. Allie Shulman delves into what the Mind of Christ looks like and how to apply it to our lives. 

Our emotions drive us. Every moment of our lives, we are impacted by our emotions and the emotions of others. And yet they are still so difficult to understand.  Why do we, and everyone else, feel the way we feel?  In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer shares where emotions come from, how to better understand them, and how we can live emotionally healthy and robust lives.

Often, our strongest, most intense reactions in the present come from our memories and the emotions connected to them. In this sermon, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer unpacks how we can renew our minds and transform our lives.