2023
Please enjoy the sermons below from 2023. All messages are organized by series beginning with the most recent. Individual sermon titles link to brief written reflections on each message.
Simple Gifts
Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.
James 1:17
Where Is God When…
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Psalm 13:1
The God of Abraham
The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.
Genesis 12:1-2
Now What?
Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses. He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt.
Luke 9:1-3
“Now What” - Sermon Reflections
08/13/23 - When do we get back to normal?
08/20/23 - How do we get people back to church? (with special guest: Rev. McKenzie Sefa)
08/27/23 - How do we do more with less?
Miracles in Our midst
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”
John 6:8-9
#Be UMC
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who is afraid has not been made perfect in love.
We love because God first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19
“#BeUMC” - Sermon Reflections
06/25/23 - Grace Beyond Understanding - with special Guest Preacher: Rev. Tangela Cameron
07/02/23 - A Journey from Fear to Faith
07/09/23 - Following Christ
07/16/23 - I Belong, You Belong, We Belong - with special Guest Preacher: Rev. Katie Lineberger
07/23/23 - Bigger Than Us
07/30/23 - Experiencing God
Your Faith Has Healed You
The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.”
Mark 5:33-34
Who Will Move the Ladder?
Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope
Ephesians 4:3-4
Spiritual
When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Acts 2:1-4
Meeting Jesus Again
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NRSV)
“Meeting Jesus Again” - Sermon Reflections
based on the book Freeing Jesus, by Diana Butler Bass
02/26/23 - Jesus as Friend
03/05/23 - Jesus as Teacher
03/12/23 - Jesus as Savior
03/19/23 - Jesus as Lord
03/26/23 - Jesus as Way
04/02/23 - Jesus as Presence
Called
As Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him
Matthew 4:18-20 (CEB)
“Called: Moving from God’s Plan to God’s Invitation” - Sermon Reflections
01/15/23 - Come and See
01/22/23 - Follow Me
01/29/23 - #Blessed
02/05/23 - Salt and Light
02/12/23 - Holiness in Action
02/19/22 - Seeing Beyond the Frame
Happy “Holy” Days
continued from Advent 2022
“One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions. Someone who thinks that a day is sacred, thinks that way for the Lord. ”
Romans 14:5-6 (CEB)