Category

We like to think of ourselves as the good guys and our enemies as the bad guys; but rather than imagining that God is on our side, we need to get ourselves on God’s side! Read More →

As we enter the “voting season”, let us mark our ballots with our faith in God at the forefront. Remember, politics must not shape our faith, faith must shape our politics. Read More →

God works with a spiritual power and grace that far surpass our human schemes. Read More →

Human beings often want to manipulate God; but God is sovereign, and leads us to humbly align ourselves with God’s purposes. Read More →

When we are trusting in God and meet only frustration in life, it is time not to give up on faith but to go deeper in faith. Read More →

When our problems are far larger than we are, we can nevertheless trust in God.  Real victory in life comes not for the powerful but for those who have faith. Read More →

God can lead us through seemingly impenetrable barriers in life. Read More →

Against great challenges and threats, we find our strength in God, and we find critical support in one another! In the church, we are “under God’s banner” as we meet today’s battles. Read More →

We are freed from anxiety as we trust in the providence of God and devote ourselves to God. Read More →

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxieties on God, because he cares for you. I Peter 5:6–7 Read More →

Jesus provides a powerful example of a life that is passionate but without anxiety; he trusts in all to unfold in God’s time. Read More →

We can keep up our courage no matter what, when we know that God is with us. Read More →

In rough circumstances, we can continue to praise God and make a witness for God. Read More →

God empowers us to face the giants of our time. Read More →

People of faith are able to grow in spirit, rather than despair, when meeting trouble. Read More →

In the midst of severe trials, God sustains our spirit in hope as we look to God in faith. Read More →

God is working in ways beyond what we may understanding at the time, weaving everything according to God’s purpose. Read More →

When things keep getting worse, keep on trusting, for God is yet at work. Read More →

People often complain about what they lack and are always craving more. Our perspective changes when we join in God’s purposes and understand that we are journeying toward God’s promises. Read More →

Even when we have experienced God’s providence, it is easy to lose heart when new challenges arise; we need to persevere in faith and support one another in the process. Read More →

In a time of deprivation and uncertainty, with no clarity how this is all going to work out, we are led to trust God on a daily basis and keep on in faith. God supplies our need, supremely through Jesus, the bread of life. Read More →

Do we get “riled up” about things that really should get us fired up? The book of Jonah challenges us to be “appropriately aggrieved,” and become passionate about the purposes of God. Read More →

God’s desire is for all to turn and be saved from sin and death. Read More →

When we find ourselves deep in trouble, it can be a time of coming afresh into the presence of God. Read More →

Sometimes God calls us in ways that leave us feeling we want to run in the opposite direction, as did Jonah! But in fact God would lead us in directions that bring fulfillment. Read More →

Easter is the movement from forsakenness – the feeling that God is absent – to the triumph of God’s redeeming power! Read More →

In the moment of greatest challenge and finally in the moment of death, we can entrust ourselves with confidence into God’s hands. Read More →

Using Psalm 46 as inspiration, Dr. Palmer reminds us how we can look to God in faith during the darkest of times. Read More →

For this year’s Youth Sunday, Katie Kulis delivers a heartfelt message about shaken faith and the love of God. Read More →

People often struggle with financial debt; how wonderful if it were all suddenly paid off! We struggle even more with our “spiritual debt”; but through Christ we are set free. Read More →

This sermon was delivered as part of the 2020 United Methodist Women’s Sunday celebrating the women of our church and involving members across the church. Read More →

The first amazing word of Jesus from the cross is to answer terrible human wrong with forgiveness. He invites us to receive and display that kind of mercy in our own lives. Read More →

How are we finally “set right” with God? We can never quite put ourselves right through our own efforts, but the answer comes to us in Jesus Christ. Read More →

The Biblical prophets declared that God is concerned about the entire society—whether a society is in line with God’s will for humanity. Too often human societies have gotten badly “out of plumb.” God calls us to join with the movement of His Spirit to set things aright. Read More →

We often like to think that we are pretty good people, at least better than some of the neighbors! But spiritual healing comes when we acknowledge our need for forgiveness and renewal, and open ourselves to the healing power of Christ. Read More →

The story of Epiphany has an important message for us today. Read More →

Just as God “dwelled among” the Israelites by means of the tabernacle, so now in a far greater way God dwells among us in Christ (John 1:14). Jesus is the new temple – the point where we experience and connect with God. This does not eliminate the need for church! (contrary to... Read More →

The first place Jesus goes (taken by his parents) after his birth is to church! They go to the temple to fulfill the sacrificial requirements of the Old Testament law. There they are met by Simeon and Anna, who have been in the temple awaiting what God would do. It is in the... Read More →

God dominates our lives like a majestic mountain. As we are drawn to the mountain, we are even more drawn to God. It is this God who sends us Jesus Christ, the ultimate source for peace within, as well as amongst us. Read More →

Thanksgiving! Psalm 100 says to “enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,” and numerous Psalms are an expression of thanks to God. Psalm 65 is a thanksgiving psalm, depicting the joy of coming into God’s temple with an appreciation for God’s blessings. Colossians likewise urges us to... Read More →

Psalm 100 says to come into God’s presence with singing. Biblical worship has always included song. Music in worship is not for entertainment, but is a profound form of expressing our praise and glorifying God. Significantly, the book of Revelation repeatedly depicts scenes of... Read More →

Water in the Bible is a symbol for cleansing and purification. It was used in this way in the Old Testament tabernacle/temple, and again was instituted by Jesus as a profound symbol of salvation in the sacrament of Baptism. It is also a symbol of life. Water in worship reminds us... Read More →

The book of Hebrews says that Biblical people of faith saw themselves as temporary sojourners on earth, and were looking forward to “a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” As we join in worship, we always look with expectant hope toward what God will do, and we trust in our... Read More →

In the building of the tabernacle, as described in Exodus, the people offered their very best—their best talent, and their best materials. So much that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing offerings! In worship we are inspired to bring God our best. This does not mean that we... Read More →

The vision of Ezekiel (as well as the passage from Job) shows that God is beyond our comprehension and beyond words. Worship helps us to embrace the mystery of God, to be receptive to a deep level of Reality that is beyond our understanding. We often want to have everything... Read More →

People throughout the ages have sensed that they should bring offerings to God. We are moved through worship to honestly give, and to do so generously, with sincere hearts. Read More →

God leads people not into private religion but into a community of faith. This was true in the Old Testament; and in the book of Acts, the first thing that happens after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is that people join in a community of faith together – the church. Worship... Read More →

Christian faith means becoming a part of a salvation story; therefore our worship involves telling the story, and moves in the cycle of church seasons through the central story of Jesus. We are invited to find our place in the story. The video “It’s Our Time” was created by... Read More →

The function of sacrifice in Biblical worship as a means of atonement. Ultimately, Christ is the final atonement for our sins and the way by which we can receive complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Read More →

Through Christ, the final high priest, we are all made into “priests” in that we all have direct access to God, and we are all called to be leaders in particular ways, to be instruments of God’s grace in the world. Read More →