Advent 2020
The Way of Generosity (Saint: Luke the Evangelist)
This message is part of our fall stewardship campaign, during which we are encouraged to prayerfully consider the ways God is calling each of us to support the ministries of First United Methodist Church in the coming year. Our stewardship sermon series is entitled “The ‘Saintly Ways’ of Stewardship.” Today’s message is about the call to give freely without anxiety or thought of your own or another’s deserving, and is based on a story of transformed giving as told by…
It Begins With One Step (#1)
Today is the first in a 7-part summer sermon series called “Going Deeper.” This series is intended to inspire worshippers to proactively go one step deeper in their walk with Jesus Christ. Today’s message identifies five different phases of spiritual growth/depth. Sermon #2: “Deed Do, Do” Sermon #3: “Deep Clean” Sermon #4: “Deep Desire” Sermon #5: “Deep Hope” Sermon #6: “Deep Truth” Sermon #7: “Now What?” READ: Luke 5:1-11 Raise your hand if it’s your goal is be a “shallow”…
Joy Rising
For Ascension Sunday Read: Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53 When was the last time you had the experience of being overwhelmed with joy? The reading from Acts said that those who witnessed Jesus ascend back into his place of eternal glory worshipped him and then returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. Can you recall a time when you felt so much joy bubbling up within that it was nearly overwhelming? If so, that’s wonderful! For me personally, I’d have to…
Set Free to Serve
This is the second in a 3-part Easter sermon series entitled “Set Free!” Each of these messages focuses on one aspect of life that Jesus Christ’s resurrection accomplished for us. Today’s message is that his resurrection enables us to serve well. Sermon #1: “Set Free to Live” Sermon #3: “Set Free to Transform the World” Scripture: Luke 22:24-27 During my 5th year of college I worked as a line cook at the Chi-Chi’s restaurant that used to be on State…
He Lets Us Choose, Too
This is the second in a 5-part Lenten sermon series called “He Chose the Nails,” based on Max Lucado’s book by the same title. Sermon #1: “Crossing Over to the Dark Side“ Sermon #3: “He’s Got Our Backs” Sermon #4: “Been There, Done That” Sermon #5: “The Cross: From Tragedy to Triumph” Scripture: Matthew 27:38-44; Luke 23:39-43 My brother, Todd, is 2 years younger than me, and my sister, Kourtney, is 8 years younger than me. Even though we all…
The Cost, the Return, and the Good News
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35 When I was in college, I called my dad one Sunday evening just as he was probably getting ready to go to bed and asked him if he’d be willing to meet me downtown Ann Arbor in an hour to talk. I believe my girlfriend and I had broken up, and I needed to talk with someone. Now, my father is not, and never has been, a night person. The idea of getting dressed and heading into…
Moving On From the Manger
Scripture: Luke 2:22-40 Well, now what? Christmas is done. We often put a lot of time and energy into anticipating and preparing for Christmas. But what about after that? What do we do now that the journey to Bethlehem is over? And the birth has taken place? And the shepherds and Wise Men have come and gone? What now? This morning’s closing song asks these questions: What will we do when the carols all fade?…when the manger’s away?…when the presents…
Because of Bethlehem, God Is a Friend
Sermon #1: Because of Bethlehem, Hope Is Here Sermon #2: Because of Bethlehem, Peace Is Real Sermon #3: Because of Bethlehem, Joy Is Within Us Sermon #4: Because of Bethlehem, Love Is Born Scripture: (hover of text for the Scripture to appear) Luke 2:1-21 Different people view and experience God in different ways. For example, some see God as an ominous and overwhelming presence, a yeller. Some see him as a judge, always looking for a reason to punish. Some…
- 1
- 2