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God’s healing power can restore us, and that power can be at work in unexpected ways! Read More →

There is a “river of life” that flows through the Scripture—a powerful image of God’s power to refresh, cleanse, and enliven our spirits. Read More →

The story of the visit of the wise men portrays Jesus as a direct challenge to political authority. The wise men come to honor “the king of the Jews,” and it is not Herod. Herod responds with violence, but the power of God is stronger. The story proclaims that above all political... Read More →

We live in frightening times. But at the center of the Christmas story is the proclamation: “Fear not!” Read More →

It is now traditional that the Christmas story and nativity scenes include shepherds. It can be easy to forget the role of shepherds in the society of the day, and exactly what it meant that God included them in the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Read More →

On our most difficult journey, God is with us. This message, declared early in the Old Testament, comes to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is Emmanuel – God with us. Read More →

Is the gospel absurd? The apostle Paul, in I Corinthians, said that the gospel message appeared as “foolishness” to the “wise” of his day. Indeed there is paradox—apparent absurdity—at the heart of the proclamation about Jesus. How can the power of God be evident in the birth of... Read More →

As the people of Israel faced apparent disaster, the prophet Jahaziel declared, “Fear not, be not dismayed, for the battle is not yours but God’s, and the Lord will be with you.” The people moved forward in faith, giving thanks to God even before a victory, and found deliverance.... Read More →

Even when it seems that our troubles are insurmountable and that God is absent, we are called to persist in faith, for God is at work and will provide. Read More →

These have been “stormy times” in American politics! Many people are unhappy with both major party presidential candidates. What are people of faith to do when the nation’s leaders are flawed? We receive helpful and sound guidance in the Biblical prophets. Read More →

If we feel overwhelmed by the world’s troubles and our own shortcomings, the answer is not despair but faith. As we look to God, we can find new direction and vision. Read More →

In the book of Genesis, God granted Jacob a new name. God’s name is then part of Jacob’s new name, “Isra-el”. For the rest of his life, he will be carrying that name with him. When we allow God into our lives, we too are challenged to remember what a great responsibility it is to... Read More →

Life can take us through some pretty rough times. One of the most harrowing voyages in the Bible took place as Paul was on a ship destined for Rome. It is a story of how God is at work—often in spite of present appearances!—to bring the faithful through the storm. Read More →

The writer of I John knew that Christians had many fears, chief among them death, persecution, and internal divisions. Must we live in fear? Is that what God wants for us? Read More →

The world will forever be a mixture of good and evil because God allows people freedom. Rather than losing heart over the bad in the world, we need to keep focused on God’s work, trusting in the harvest to come. Read More →

Like the disciples, caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, we are often anxious and afraid in the face of life’s troubles. Jesus can calm the storm, and give us the courage to continue on in faith. Read More →

In the midst of the darkest times in the history of Israel, Jeremiah found hope in God. His hope was well founded, for bright times were coming! Today, even in the toughest times, when it seems that all is lost, we can find genuine hope in God. Read More →

Why is there such evil in the world? The Bible leads us to understand not only the origin of evil, but the answer to it. We will never save ourselves; but the good news is that God is acting through Christ to deliver us from evil. Read More →

When storms hit in life, we often wonder where God is. The Scriptures affirm that while God may allow the storm, God yet reigns over the storm. When we put our trust in God, we can see beyond the clouds, and we can find the strength to journey through the storm, upheld by the... Read More →

We live in stormy times. How can we journey through a world full of such evil and trouble? The story of Noah is an archetypal image of how we can make it through the storm when we put our trust in God. Read More →

Who are the “meek”? The Biblical answer may surprise you. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” he is talking about what sort of people find fulfillment in their true destiny. Read More →

Jesus says, “Blessed are the persecuted.” Through all the beatitudes, Jesus teaches that people who are hitting hard times may become especially blessed. What is Jesus saying to us when we confront rough times? Read More →

“Blessed are the pure in heart,” says Jesus, “for they shall see God.” What does it mean to be pure in heart? Jesus points here to the center of the blessed life. Read More →

Jesus tells his hearers that if they ask anything “in his name” he will do it! We need to understand that Jesus is not writing a blank check here. We reflect upon what it means to pray “in his name.” Visit kentmethodist.org/sermons for the video and an archive of past sermons. Read More →

This week’ sermon was delivered by guest preacher Bil Lepp. Bil is a former Methodist pastor and an award-winning professional storyteller. He has received accolades not only at storytelling competitions, but also for his writing for adults and children (most recently the... Read More →

Forgiveness is hard. It can be hard to forgive ourselves. It can be hard to forgive others. Yet Jesus says “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” How do we experience God’s mercy in life? Read More →

Are you trying to be a peacemaker in your family, or among friends or colleagues? It can be difficult! Do you long for peace in the world? That seems impossible! Yet Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” How does Jesus lead us to create peace? Read More →

What does it mean as a nation to be blessed by God? Does our country have a calling to be “a nation whose God is the Lord”? Read More →

What are you seeking in life? What will satisfy your soul? We are invited to find our real fulfillment in Christ. Read More →

Jesus turns our typical notions about who is “blessed” on their head. We idolize the rich and famous, but Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor (in spirit),” and “Blessed are the meek and those who mourn.” How can people who feel a deep sense of lack and loss be blessed? Perhaps it... Read More →

What does it mean to be blessed by God? How do we enter into God’s blessing? The story of Abraham helps us to understand how God’s blessing works. Read More →

Paul writes that we are like fragile earthen vessels or tents, and yet we are entrusted with the living and sharing of God’s Word. It is only by God’s grace that we can take on this mission. Read More →

During our United Methodist Women celebration, Judith Nedel of the Rebecca Circle delivered this message about finding true happiness and the scriptural basis for living a life filled with blessings. Read More →

What is God’s calling for your life? How do you discern, and follow, that call? Read More →

How do we come to faith—a personal faith that is real and that is our own? The parable of the bridesmaids gives us an example from which to draw inspiration. Read More →

What is the nature of evil? Why does it exist? What do we do about it? Like the first disciples, we are called to “cast out demons” today. Read More →

Christ brings triumph over the power of evil. The battle comes to focus on the cross and culminates in the resurrection. Evil may yet rage in the world, but its power over us is broken, when we put our faith in Christ. Read More →

People do not generally decide to be evil. They are drawn into it, they deceive themselves, and imagine they are OK when they are doing great wrong. We see the pattern again and again—in social movements from the Nazis to present-day Islamist terrorists, and in the behavior of... Read More →

Anger seems to be a motivating force in our society these days. There is nothing wrong with anger, in and of itself, but it is important to understand how the scriptures help us manage and direct anger. Read More →

What is the message of the many gospel stories in which Jesus casts out demons? Are there demons in our own lives, or in the world at large, from which we need deliverance today? The New Testament brings a powerful message about how Christ will free us from the demonic powers of... Read More →

The notion of “the dark side” in the Star Wars movies was drawn from an age-old perception in religion—that there are dark powers at work in the world. We see these powers today. As Paul said, “Our struggle is against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the... Read More →

Is there really something beyond this life? Can we believe in eternity? And if we believe in eternal life, what difference does that make for life right now? These questions are decisively answered on Easter. Read More →

We like to do our own thing. We should not have to be responsible for someone else. Or does God have another idea? What is God’s vision for the human race? Read More →

In the book of Acts, early Christians were described as “the people who were turning the world upside down.” [Acts 17:6] Indeed Christ does turn the world upside down, reversing values, goals, and patterns of behavior. We only grasp the gospel when we understand the kind of... Read More →

“I can pray to God in a closet.” “I get closer to God by walking in the woods than by going to church.” “I am spiritual but not religious.” Such statements are common. But how in fact do we authentically connect with God? What brings us into a real and deep relationship with God?... Read More →

We cannot save ourselves. We need God! But how does God save us? And what sort of “salvation” do we need? God’s saving action comes finally to clear focus and fulfillment in the cross of Jesus Christ. Read More →

Perhaps the most revolutionary idea at the heart of the gospel is the idea of grace—that God is patient with us, will forgive sinners, and will finally give us love and endless blessing even though we do not deserve it. While many religions acknowledge God, affirm moral values,... Read More →

Can you be good without God? Many people argue that we can have moral values without belief in God. Others note that some people who believe in God have very twisted values. In fact, human societies have had all sorts of values; even Nazis thought their actions were justified.... Read More →

The terrorist shouts, “God is great,” while slaughtering innocent people. The terrorist cannot shout, “God is good.” To say, “God is good,” is to make a fundamental claim about life—that good will triumph over evil, because the very nature of God is to create good. But how does... Read More →

In order to find the answer to one’s sickness, it is essential to correctly diagnose the problem! The great human errors of the past century—from Communism to secular materialism to the current Islamist terrorism—are all rooted in a wrong understanding of our basic problem. God’s... Read More →