Sunday Recap

Sunday December 3, 2023

1st Sunday in Advent

“Isaiah 64:1”

Hymns- “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” UMH 211, “Blessed be the God of Israel” UMH 209, “Soon & Very Soon” UMH 706

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1

  • Hope is the feeling that we have that nothing is permanent.

  • We KNOW that God will do His thing, in His time and His way.

  • God is updating us.

  • Advent is about looking forward.

    Just like updating your phone, to update yourself, connect to the power source and the knowledge source! AKA God!

Sunday Recap

Sunday November 19, 2023

25th Sunday After Pentecost

“The Invisible Thanksgiver”

Hymns- “Come, Ye Thankful People Come” UMH 694, “For the Fruits of His Creation” UMH 97, “Let All Things Now Living” UMH 384

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

  • Rejoice IN THE LORD

  • Be so in tune with the Lord that you are one person.

    1. True- Think on what is lasting & permanent (Isaiah 54:10)

    2. Honorable- (Philippians 2:3)

    3. Just- (Romans 8:28)

    4. Pure (Matthew 5)

    5. Pleasing to the Lord

    6. Commendable to the Lord (Matthew 5:16)

    Let your actions of following Christ and living in his will make you a “Visible Thanksgiver” rather than invisible so people know who you serve!

Sunday Recap

Sunday November 12, 2023

24th Sunday After Pentecost

“What Are You Serving for Thanksgiving” - Joshua 24:15

Hymns- “I Will Call Upon the Lord”, “Christ, For the World We Sing" UMH 568, “Give Thanks” UMH 384

Scripture: Joshua 24:15

  • The Thanksgiving holiday is based on a Christian principle, “Be Thankful”

  • What if we woke up tomorrow with only the things we thanked God for today?

  • Joshua’s main focus was SERVING, and makes us ask ourselves, “Who do you choose to serve today?”

  • We have a choice to make daily to serve God.

    This Thanksgiving (and every day), remember who and what you are serving!

Sunday Recap

Sunday October 22, 2023

Twenty First Sunday After Pentecost

Exodus 20:13-17 “Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor

Hymns- “Creating God, Your Fingers Traced”, “Its Me, It’s Me, O Lord” UMH 352, “Guide Me, Thou O Great Jehovah” UMH 127

Scripture: Exodus 20:13-17

As the conclusion of last weeks sermon stated, the purpose of the law is not about your best life now but about your neighbors best life now. Each commandment is about what you do but also your motive behind it.

Commandment #6- Thou Shall Not Murder

  • God values life in all forms and we are called to love our neighbor no matter what. (Genesis 2:7, Deuteronomy 30:19, Exodus 21:12, 14, 1 John 3:14, 17-18. Matthew 5:43-45)

    Commandment #7- Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery

  • God intended for marriage to be sacred between one man and one woman, and no other individuals. But God still gives us a way out of our sin, and cleanses us. (Genesis 2:18, 21-24, Matthew 5:27-29, Leviticus 18:6, 22-23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:11)

    Commandment #8- Thou Shall Not Steal

  • There are many laws outside of the 10 Commandments about stealing of all different things, but it goes much deeper than that. We are taught it is more of a blessing to give than to receive. ( 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Joshua 7, Judges 17:1-6, John 12:6, Ephesians 4:28, Luke 3:11, Matthew 5:42, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Acts 20:35)

    Commandment #9- Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor

  • This commandment elaborates on who our neighbor is, and is made to prevent slandering within the justice system. Lying and dishonesty perverts hearts and are an abomination to God. (Exodus 23:1-2, 6-8, Proverbs 6:16, 19, Proverbs 12:22, Revelation 22:14-15,

    Commandment #10- Thou Shall Not Cover Your Neighbors Things

  • Coveting is the feeling of “I have to have that!” And is often the start of committing the other sins listed in the 9 commandments. It draws us to the motives before the sin. (Matthew 15:18-20, Matthew 6:19-21)

    If others see us living our lives according to God’s will and God’s law, they see our hearts have a pure motive and see the light of Jesus shining bright!

Sunday Recap

Sunday October 15, 2023

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

Exodus 20:12

Hymns- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (UMH 560), Wash O God, Our Sons & Daughters (UMH 368), This is the Spirit’s Entry Now (UMH 608)

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Last week we learned of how the first 4 commandments showed us how God expected us to treat him and honor him. The 5th commandment is a transition from honoring God to honoring our neighbors.

  • Fundamentally this commandment means to Honor your Elders.

  • This is the only commandment with a promise.

  • God intends for us to honor the authoritative figures in our lives.

  • This commandment leads into the final 5 of loving our neighbors.

Sunday Recap

Sunday October 1, 2023

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

“Have You Checked Your Blinker Fluid Lately?” Intro to the 10 Commandments

Hymns- “I Come with Joy” UMH 617, “In Remembrance of Me”

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

We will be continuing our study through the book of Exodus through the month of October, starting with the 10 Commandments. Today is a quick run through of these commandments in a “positive” way instead of “Don’t do this! Don’t do that!”

1- God, You will be on a pedestal in my life (v3)

2- You will be my #1 object of affection (v4)

3- I will use God’s name religiously every day (v7)

4- We will use one day a week to worship God and he will be in control of the narrative (v8)

5- I will be respectful of my parents and those who raised me (v12)

6- I will respect all human life (v13)

7- I will keep my vows to my spouse (v14)

8- I will respect others material possessions (v15)

9- I will say kind and truthful words about my neighbor (v16)

10- I will give praise for the things I have and wish my neighbor well for the things they have that I do not (v17)

Sunday Recap

Sunday September 24, 2023

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

“He Has Made Us Glad”

Hymns- “Come, Now is the Time to Worship”, “God of the Ages” UMH 698, “He Has Made Me Glad”

Scripture: Exodus 16:17:1-7

As we continue in our reading of Moses and the Israelites traveling through the desert and out of slavery, we read once again they are dissatisfied with the circumstances. However, now it is a life-threatening issue, lack of WATER. They complain to Moses as they have before and he immediately goes to God, as we all should with our problems. He is instructed to take his staff (the same one that turned the Nile to blood and brought frogs and locusts to the land) and strike a rock to bring forth living water.

  • In the Old Testament, this living water is literal water that saves them in the desert. In the New Testament, it refers to Jesus Christ.

  • Moses knew to take his cares to God, and just like before, God provides in miraculous ways.

  • God was and is always present and here for us to provide for our needs.

    What is your crisis today?

    How has God made you glad in the midst of the crisis?

    God has made us glad and it is our jobs to share this true living water with others!

Sunday Recap

Sunday September 17, 2023

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

“The Burden of the Day”

Hymns- “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” UMH 127, “Lead On, O Cloud of Presence”, “Awesome God”

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15

As Moses and the Israelites traveled through the desert, they were hungry and tired and began complaining to Moses and Aaron. We read verse by verse how the Lord began to provide exactly what they would need to get through each day, and even provided enough for a day of rest on the Sabbath.

  • The Israelites complained to whoever was the closest to hear it, at that time it was Moses & Aaron. (verse 2)

  • Their hunger hit in full force and the Lord began to provide manna. (verses 3-4)

  • He provided enough for them to gather and eat on the Sabbath, which was still a new concept to them. (verse 5)

  • They are reminded that it is God who provides for their every need, all you must do is give your “complaints” to Him. (verses 6-8)

  • God gives manna from heaven. (verses 9-15)

    What is your daily dose of ‘manna’ that you need?

    God will make special provisions for those in the wilderness as long as you remember that it is Him who gives it.

    God truly does provide for our daily needs, we must always say “thank you”.

Sunday Recap

Sunday September 10, 2023

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

“Why Be Baptized?”

Hymns- “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” UMH 400, “This is the Spirits Entry Now” UMH 608, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”

Scripture: Hebrews 9:13-21, Leviticus 8:19, Leviticus 16:14, John 3:22-27

The sermon from 9/3 was an intro into baptism and how it is just a symbol of our commitment to Christ, just as wearing a wedding ring is a symbol of your commitment to your spouse. This message was a deeper dive into why baptism is important as a Christian. There are many different takes on how a baptism happens (sprinkling, full immersion, etc.) but they all signify purification & identification.

  • Old Testament baptisms often used blood of animals to cleanse and purify the unclean (Hebrews 9:13-21)

  • New Testament baptisms began using water to signify the cleansing only God could provide.

    6 Reasons Why Baptism Matters (By Jonathan Hayashi)

    1. You are Linked to Christ (Acts 19:5)

    2. You have been Linked to the Local Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

    3. You have been Linked to God’s Covenant (Colossians 2:11-12)

    4. You have been Linked to a New Life (Romans 6:5, Romans 6:3-4)

    5. You have been Linked to a Death Defying Future (Referencing our resurrection after our earthly death)

    6. You have been Linked to a Worldwide Mission (Matthew 28:19-20)

  • We are only right with God through our faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9)

    Baptism is one of the most important things we can do to show our faith in Christ. It is an outward sign of the inward change that God has made in us.

Sunday August 27, 2023

Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

“God Sightings- Paul”

Hymns- “Ask Ye What Great Things I Know” (UMH 163), “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” (UMH 363), “Change My Heart, O God”

Scripture: Acts 9:1-22

Christianity is supremely a religion of conversion. Saul was radically converted to Paul by God on the road to Damascus. Before his conversion, he persecuted those who worshiped God. After his conversion, he preached the Gospel relentlessly and led many to Christ.

  • Before his Conversion, he had no idea he was lost and NEEDED divine intervention.

  • God showed himself to Saul in the midst of his ordinary day of persecuting Christians.

  • God did not ask for permission to come into Paul’s life, nor did he wait for Paul to understand how much he needed God.

  • After his conversion, he took 3 years to gain a new attitude towards other believers, the truth, and the gospel.

  • A man who was once a terrorist has now become an evangelist.

  • Because of such a miraculous conversion and the amazing changes that had happened within Paul, many hearts were turned to Christ.

    Is anyone glorifying God because of you?

    Is your life pointing people towards God?

Sunday August 20, 2023

Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

“God Sightings- Jacob”

The story of Jacob

Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34, Genesis 27:1-40, Genesis 30:37-43, Genesis 32:22-31

Jacob means “the one who deceives” and is most commonly known as a “schemer” multiple time in Genesis. In verses 22-31, we read of Jacob wrestling a man through the night until daybreak, a wresting match which left him with a permanent limp.

  • God met with Jacob that night, who appeared to him in the form of a wrestling man.

  • Jacob realized this ‘man’ had superhuman strength and the power to bless.

  • Jacob had to realize that he would never win against God and must surrender to receive the blessing.

  • By surrendering to God, Jacob did indeed win and received a very special blessing.

  • God gave Jacob a limp so he would never forget the encounter and know it took surrendering to triumph.

    The blessing was his change of name. God converted him by changing his name so he would be born again. He would no longer be a schemer, mastered by his own fleshly ways, but rather by the Spirit of the Living God.

    God is the God who appears to ordinary people, in ordinary circumstances and reveals to them the extraordinary

Sunday August 13, 2023

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

“God Sightings-Moses”

Hymns- Seek Ye First (UMH 405), Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (UMH 514), When I Surveyed the Wondrous Cross (UMH 717)

A God Sighting is when God reveals himself to ordinary people in ordinary situations to make them extraordinary.

Scripture: Exodus 3, Psalms 46:10

God reveals himself to Moses through a burning bush on an ordinary day while doing his ordinary job, herding sheep.

  • God meets you exactly where you are

  • God calls you by name

  • God reveals himself to show he is a holy God

  • Ordinary moments become exciting when he reveals himself

  1. Do you look for God in the ordinary moments?

  2. Do you listen to God when he calls?

  3. When did God last reveal himself to you?