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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.... Read More →

Are we more than a cosmic accident? Does life have any ultimate purpose? Is there a Master Designer and Artist behind all that we see? The Bible gives a clear answer, which is fully coherent with modern science. Read More →

The new covenant in Jesus is a new relationship with God in which God’s law is in our hearts. God establishes the covenant; we are invited to respond. Read More →

The light of Christ comes to us, and is to radiate from us to the world. Read More →

New Spirit’s Annual Christmas Cantata. Read More →

Isaiah uses the image of watchmen who “see the advent of the Lord in Zion” and goes on to say that “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The Isaiah passage also contains the image, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who... Read More →

The Immanuel image. In Old Testament days, King Ahaz is given the sign of Immanuel (a child born with that name) to draw him to faith instead of fear. Centuries later, in a far greater way, God gives humanity the sign of Immanuel in Jesus, to bring us out of fear into faith. Read More →

We look to Christ for hope. Read More →

Isaiah speaks of the salvation that God will bring through the Messiah, and urges us to “give thanks.” Read More →

What seems dead and dried up can be revived. The Valley of Dry Bones image is a powerful image of resurrection, speaking not only of resurrection to life eternal but of a spiritual revival in the here and now. Read More →

What we keep for ourselves is lost, what we give for God’s purposes endures. Haggai calls the people to stop just focusing on their own houses and to “build God’s house.” The people respond with commitment. Read More →

“All flesh is grass,” says Isaiah, “but the word of our God will stand forever.” All things are passing. The prophets call us to ground ourselves on what endures – on God and God’s promises. Read More →

The story of Bartimaeus. Read More →

The most valuable things in life are not attained with money. God’s grace is free. This does not mean that it is cheap, or that it should be taken lightly. The gift of Christ moves us to orient our lives toward what is of true value. Read More →

Our district superintendent stopped by to give a message on our church for our Bicentennial Celebration Sunday event. Read More →

Christ brings peace. The Isaiah passage is the famous “the wolf shall live with the lamb” image, and the Micah passage is the “swords into ploughshares” image, which has had a recent expression in the “megatons to megawatts” project. Read More →

The “living water” imagery is found in Ezekiel, who has a vision of a new temple, with a river of water flowing from it, which brings life to all. Zechariah reiterates the image: “on that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem.” The imagery is repeated in a climactic way... Read More →

The image of the “repairer of the breach” points first of all to the fact that there is a basic breach or gap between ourselves and God, which results in a breach in our relations with others. Christ is the repairer of the breach, who restores us into right relationship with God... Read More →

We need a spiritual transformation. God promises a “new heart and new spirit,” a promise that comes to fulfillment in Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Read More →

In the midst of trials, the ancient Israelites were inclined to want to rely on their own strength. Isaiah perceived that such self-reliance is doomed, and called the people to return to God and to rest in God’s strength. Read More →

Ezekiel is called to preach and serve God faithfully, even though he will have little initial success. He is to keep on anyways. We are called not to success but to faithful service, with the trust that God’s purposes will ultimately unfold. Read More →

The beasts of Daniel’s vision represent successive evil empires. We continue to deal with one evil after another. But the prophetic vision is the perception that God is on the throne, and God will ultimately triumph. No matter what evils may rage in our world, we can trust in... Read More →

Worship and professed belief are empty until they are expressed in action for God’s purposes. The basic sin of ancient Israel was apathy and unconcern for the needy. They thought they were O.K. with God and had no need to do anything further. If we truly receive what Christ does... Read More →

The “day of the Lord” was the anticipated day of God’s judgment upon sinners, which ancient Israelites imagined would be God’s wrath upon their enemies, but which the prophets proclaimed would be God’s severe judgment upon the people of Israel for their own sins. The prophets... Read More →

This is the spectacular “Ezekiel saw the wheel” vision, in which Ezekiel has a vision which speaks of the glory of God, the fact that God is beyond description, and the fact that God is present in every place (God moves). Read More →

This will be an introspective journey as we reflect upon the spiritual nature of our interior self/being. I will be reflecting on this “being’s” nature and how it affects our daily living. In the Ephesian scripture, Paul writes about this “inner being” and how it must be nurtured... Read More →

Where do we come from? What is our destiny? In Jesus – “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” – we discover who we truly are, and a glorious destiny. Read More →

We build our lives on a solid foundation when we build upon Christ. Read More →

We are called to let Christ enlighten us, and then to let the light of Christ shine through us. Early American Christians saw this as a call for our whole nation, that we are to be a beacon of light to the world – a good message for this Independence Day weekend! Read More →

Dr. Butcher served at the United Methodist Church of Kent from 1983 to 1992. We welcomed him back as our guest as we continue to celebrate our Bicentennial. Read More →

King David was ready to settle down and build a temple. But God rejected the idea. God was not ready to settle down and be perceived as being contained in one spot. God wants to stir us up and to avoid becoming content with the way things are. Read More →

The “salvation” that Jesus brings is not just a “ticket to heaven.” Jesus saves from all that would threaten to destroy us. We experience the fullness of that salvation as we open our hearts to Christ in faith. Read More →

Jesus is the “bright morning star” – the one who brings hope for the dawning of a new day in our lives and in our world. Read More →

Where there is a broken relationship, a mediator can bring about new understanding, healing, and a new future. Christ is the Mediator who can bring about healing in our relationship with God, and with others. Read More →

In Jesus’ saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” he provides a powerful image of how we need to be connected to Christ, and how that connection enables us to “bear fruit” in the world. Read More →

Do you struggle to find your way or your place in life? Jesus calls us to “enter the gate” that he provides for us. Read More →

The Scriptures urge us to pray and to act “in Jesus’ name.” This means not just speaking the name of Jesus, but acting in the style of Jesus — the style of a loving servant. This message connects with the theme of Mother’s Day! Read More →

When Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” he is saying that he is the source of what we truly need. We are called to spiritually receive Christ, to nourish us and to bring us into genuine life. Read More →

Jesus is the “good shepherd” who guides, protects, rescues, and cares for us. Read More →

It is important to know that God wants to be with us. Therefore, the logical conclusion is we can be with God. The way we can demonstrate this love from God to others is to be with them. Read More →

We are invited not only to believe that Jesus is the Savior, but to accept Jesus as Lord – to let Christ “reign” in our lives so that we can share in the fullness of God’s Kingdom. Read More →

Jesus brings true life now, and life eternal in the glory of God. As he says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Let Christ bring you into life today! Read More →

Jesus is acclaimed on Palm Sunday as “king,” but he is not the kind of king that people expected. He offers a radical answer to the world’s trouble: not more violence, but redeeming and transforming love. Read More →

United Methodist Women’s Sunday. Our UMW shares a humorous short play and a message on the theme of praising God through music. Read More →

Jesus lays down his life for us, as a once for all sacrifice, so that we can be healed. So John the Baptist would say of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Read More →

This begins a sermon series entitled, “The Names and Titles of Jesus – and what they mean for us.” The Bible urges us often to “call on the name of the Lord.” To do so is to enter God’s presence and to experience God’s grace and power. Read More →

Guest Pastor (and former associate pastor at Kent UMC from 1980-1985), Rev. Bob Machovec, returns to share his message with us to celebrate our bicentennial as well as the introduction to the season of Lent and what that means. Read More →