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Posts in category PodCast

The Problems with Plenty



Making a Difference (title)1

In the 1830s, when Alexis de Tocqueville recorded his famous observations on America, he noted a “strange melancholy that haunts the inhabitants…in the midst of abundance.” Americans believed that prosperity could quench their yearning for happiness, but such a hope was illusory, because, de Tocqueville added, “the incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy […]

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money, stewardship

Got Idols?



Making a Difference (title)1

Got idols? It’s hard to believe there are perfectly sane people who dress up in elegant dress and then bow and scrap down in adoration toward inanimate objects. How childish and regressive, right? We are so beyond that? Right? Nope. Take a look at the kind of idols we worship and the kind of sacrifices […]

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Uncategorized    idols, stewardship

A Leading Cause of Life is Hope



creation care logo

Hope is much more than wishful thinking or having a “Polly Anna” attitude about everything. Hope is certainly realistic about the problems and pitfalls of life, but it isn’t overwhelmed by them. Hope has a healing quality about it that suffers pain like everyone else, but has a confidence that the day always follows the […]

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hope, podcast, sermon

Building Your Life Story



Consistency

Life is present in every community; and the challenge life presents to us is to find it, grab hold of it and run with it because life is moving on. We have a choice, of course. Life or Death. The language of death is easy to speak, but they call us to make a different […]

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Uncategorized    Coherency, Consistency, Leading Cause of Life, unity

Relationships Create Life



Relationships Create Life

Life is present in every community; and the challenge life presents to us is to find it, grab hold of it and run with it because life is moving on. We have a choice, of course. Life or Death. God says, “I am offering you life or death, blessing or curse.  Choose life, then, so […]

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Connections, faith, Leading Causes of Life, relationships

When Life Seems Off-Course



creation care logo

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one–the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” [C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters] The easiest way in life is to follow the crowd, do what others are doing, and go where others go. But if you remember you’re mother’s advice (“would you jump […]

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podcast

Children Matter! Part 1



iStock_000017580331Small

Celebrating Their place in the Church, the Family and Community! Most parents, at least the healthy ones, want their children to grow up to be mature, healthy, and happy functioning adults able to appreciate life and enjoy healthy relationships. But its a daunting task to keep our children safe and secure while providing a healthy […]

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Children    Children's Ministry

Choose Substance over Simple Solutions



Bread of Life

The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung once said that “the primary neurosis of people is emptiness.” There is within all of us an insatiable desire for something worthy of our lives, something to fill the void we feel but somehow cannot quite describe or discuss in polite company. It is a hallow feeling, a yearning to […]

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Bread of Life

Two Sources of Purpose and Passion



Living Water

There are time in everyone’s life when we feel dry, parched and worn out. Perhaps it is the routine of daily activities that seem to be going no where, or it is the lack of meaningful relationships that leave us alone, or it is the failure of the past that doesn’t give us much hope […]

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living Water

Create a Life Story



Worship 07.07.13 The Shepherd sermon

The 23rd Psalm is a classic in Christian literature. People refer to it more often than any other passage, prayer or petition in times of death, grief and personal crises. It is the quintessential Judeo-Christian statement of faith that stirs something deep within every one of us. As human beings, we are are all connected […]

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mission statement, Psalm 23

The Art of Becoming



potter

be·com·ing /biˈkəmiNG/  [Noun]  The process of coming to be something or of passing into a state. To grow to be, to turn into. A human spirit is, in a real sense, not a finished product; rather it is a lifelong endeavor of becoming. Each day, through the choices we make, the words we say, and the […]

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clay, coaching, Jeremiah, potter

More than a Face in the Crowd



A Face in the Crowd

“What’s the point of striving to get to the top, to be better than everyone else, to be admired, applauded and worshiped if in the process you lose that spark of life that makes you more than just another face in the crowd?  What need is so valuable you would be willing to give up the artist, […]

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sermon notes, Uncategorized    face

Life Without Excuses



Excuses

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”  Benjamin Franklin Our spiritual lives are filled with excuses. Adam blamed Eve for the apple he bit into, Eve blamed the snake for the apple she plucked, and you and I blame everyone and everything for the inconveniences, conflicts and challenges that […]

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excuses, Neil Parsons, podcast

Not An Ordinary Day



passing-through1

The Artists eye sees beyond the obvious to the obscure and oddities in life that reveal something more profound. The Artists eye lives each moment in wonder, amazement and humility. We’re not just passing through our days and our relationships we pause to see what’s really happening. It means having a big picture perspective.  The Goal […]

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passing through, pentecost, Vacation

The Blessing of the Broken: Rebirth



broken-pot

We hide our brokenness from the world and eventually from ourselves. We are shackled with the chains of perfection in an imperfect world. Our children try to live up to standards that we ourselves have never kept but hide behind a facade of respectability, success and achievement. Unfortunately none of it is true. Perhaps our […]

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brokenness

Pentecost is Good Medicine!



FUMC note

John Ortberg tells the story of a friend who made his first trip south of the Mason-Dixon Line from Chicago to Georgia. On his first morning in the South he went into a restaurant to order breakfast, and it seemed that every dish included something called grits…which, as my Tennessee friends tell me, is exactly […]

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pentecost

Faith needs to be stretched



faith

Pivotal Circumstances – something big happened, death, sickness, divorced, birth of a child, lost a job, got a job, got married had a child and now responsibility set in. A miracle given to us, perhaps not the one we asked for, and now we’re responsible for a beautiful life or the hard work of rebuilding […]

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pivotal circumstance, podcast

Make it Personal and it becomes Powerful



faith

We are relational beings and everything we do revolves around this central hub. Our careers, our sense of fulfillment and our drive to achieve all revolve around how we are perceived by others, how we try to impress others and how connected we feel to certain groups we want to belong. If you know someone […]

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Faith goes Farther with Friends



faith

“Faith is living in the confidence that what we hope for will actually come to pass; it gives us assurance about things we cannot yet see.” Hebrews 11:1 Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had absolute confidence that God was with you? Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, […]

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How to develop Life Altering Faith



faith

Imagine how different your outlook on life would be if you had absolute confidence that God was with you, right here, right now? Imagine how differently you would respond to difficulties, temptations, and even good things if you knew with absolute certainty that God was in all of it and was planning to leverage it […]

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faith, podcast

The Future of Asking Why



OnTheWay11

Have you ever faced disappointment, grief or rejection so powerful that you felt so alone even God seemed to have walked out. Have you ever felt forsaken? Forsaken means to be “complete deserted or helpless, abandoned.” I think if you’re honest with yourself, you’ve been there once or twice before. Looking back at those times, […]

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Baptism – This I Believe



Sojourn1

Baptism is the initial step of a faithful heart. Max Lucado A Jailer becomes a Disciple (Paul and Silas in Prison) Acts 16:25-34 The Story of the Jailer and his family has always fascinated me. The jailer’s experience and his amazing conversion from being a hard-nosed, control oriented, government official, to a joy-filled host who washes, feeds […]

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Baptism, worship    Baptism

Haiti Mission Moment



Notebook2

Last Sunday Esther shared her experiences during February mission trip to Haiti and how being a part of the mission both inspired and challenged our understanding of the Gospel and God’s love for the world. Enjoy and Share. Slides: Esther’s Mission Testimony Audio: Mission Moment E Dehmlow 4.7.13 Related posts: Haiti Mission: Matt’s Story Expectations of […]

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Haiti, Missions    Esther, Haiti

Touchstone: An Easter Legend



Touchstone: An Easter Legend

According to an ancient legend, if you could find a touchstone on the coast of the Black Sea and hold it in your hand, everything you touched would be healed and restore life and vitality. You would recognize the touchstone from ordinary stones by its warmth. Ordinary stones would feel cold and empty, but when […]

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Easter, podcast

Sojourn Podcasts



Sojourn Podcasts

Casting Nets_The Abundance 5.2.10 L Casting Nets_The Abundance 5.2.10 E Casting Nets_Gone Fishing 4.18.10E Casting Nets_Fishing 4.25.10 E Casting Nets_Finding the Flow 5.30.10 L Casting Nets_Finding the Flow 5.30.10 E Breaking Free 7.10.11L Breaking Free 7.10.11E Born for Something More 4.11.10L Born for Something More 4.11.10E Ben White Ben Fenton Christmas Eve 2008 6pm Baptism […]

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Masks: What Are You Hiding Behind?



The Mask

Mask: To conceal one’s real personality, character, or intentions Masks prevent us from looking at our lives honestly or experiencing true intimacy with others. Mask don’t protect they suffocate. Jesus’ encounter with people was so dramatic because he saw right through the masks we wear, address the fear that made us feel we needed them, and gave […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    masks

Haiti Mission: Matt’s Story



Matt Young

  Everyone has a fresh perspective, a different take on events shared with others and their what they mean to them. Our trip to Haiti is no different. I’m learning that the trip has meant many different things to different people and has had an impacted the team members in a profound and personal way. […]

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Haiti, Missions    Haiti Mission, Matt Young

Potential: Believing You Can!



Potential: Believing You Can!

This Sunday, Erin Long and Barb Richter shared how their trip to Haiti impacted their life. It was a huge risk to Erin who’s never done anything like this, but it opened a whole new door to what she’s capable of and what God is able to do through her. Her story and her experience […]

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Missions, Uncategorized    Haiti, potential

Priorities: Is you life in balance?



Sojourn1

Jesus is on a mission. He’s turned his face toward Jerusalem and knows there is a destiny with death that lies before him. On his way, just outside of Jerusalem, he stops at the home of his dearest friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. If you’re not familiar with the details of the story, I encourage […]

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confrontational discipleship, distracted, Lent, Mary and Martha, podcast, priorities, sermon, sermon notes, Sermon Slides

Confronting Our Brokenness



Blind Bartimaeus

Like seasons of the year, the church also has seasons for spiritual growth, renewal, harvest and planting. Seasons for self-reflection, seasons for joyful exuberance and seasons for tending the seeds already planted.  We find ourselves in the season of Lent, a time of inner reflection and self-evaluation. During Lent, we confront our own self-righteous attitudes and look at […]

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Lent, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Bartimaeus, brokenness, fatih, Healing, labels, Lent

Confronting Fear



fear, podcast, sermon, audio, discipleship, lent

If I asked you if you were a confrontational person, how would you respond? Do you admire confrontational people or flee from them? Are they helpful or hurtful? Most of us I think avoid conflict and  confrontations at all cost, even if it means sacrificing our happiness and our better judgment as long at it […]

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Discipleship, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    confrontation, discipleship, fear, podcast

Life in Haiti 2.22.13



Life in Haiti 2.22.13

Adventure of the Haiti Mission Team… Yesterday was filled with adventures some planned, a lot unplanned. After my last post we were on ou way to Mount Cabri or Goat Mountain to be part of (i.e. observe) a revival service in a small mountain community, or so I thought. We were all excited to experience […]

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Haiti, Missions    Haiti, Haiti Mission Society, misson, team

Ash Wednesday Services



Ash Wednesday Services

“I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moment’s gone. All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity. Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.” [Dust in the Wind” by Kansas, 1978] As a Christian I don’t share the hollow despair of “Dust in the Wind,” yet […]

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worship    Ash Wednesday, podcast, sermon, worship

What to do when faced with a Generosity Encounter



What to do when faced with a Generosity Encounter

Have you ever been walking down the street when you came upon someone in need, either asking you directly for help (financially or perhaps a hitchhiker) or someone caught in a mishap that looks like it is going to ruin their day (flat tire, shopping cart overturned, etc.)? What do you do? What should you do? […]

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Finance, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    Epiphany, Generosity, giving, stewardship

Taming the Money Animal



Taming the Money Animal

As leaders of God’s church, our greatest responsibility is to create an environment in which people can give generously. When people in our churches have an encounter with the living God and are touched by his grace, we find no greater evidence of God’s power than the existence of a culture of reckless generosity. Generosity […]

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Finance, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    Finance, Generosity, money, stewardship

Creating a Culture of Contagious Generosity



Creating a Culture of Contagious Generosity

      If life isn’t about money, then why does it cause so many problems. A recent survey the Barna Research Group found that 54% of Non-Christians and 51% of Christians believe the MONEY is the main symbol for determining a successful life. In Paul’s letter to pastor Timothy, he speaks about the temptation, the […]

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Finance, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    Epiphany, finances, money, podcast, sermon, sermon notes, stewardship

The Epiphany of Giving



The Epiphany of Giving

Natural wisdom says, “I’ll give when all my needs are met.” “I can’t afford to give” or “I’ll give when I’ve got some surplus.” God’s wisdom says, “Give now, even in your time of need, and watch me work!” The Bible teaches that when we give in faith (trusting totally in God) even when we […]

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Finance, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    Epiphany, finances, Generosity, giving, stewardship

The Gift of Love



The Gift of Love

God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12 “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give you […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    audio, Christmas, Gift, podcast, sermon, sermon notes, Sermon Slides

Joy is Genuine



Joy is Genuine

Most of the time we settle for happiness when Joy is being offered. Happiness is circumstantial and depends on things going the way we expected. Joy is deeper and certainly longer lasting. Joy understands the ups and downs of life because its focused on the destination and know that  trials and troubles are a necessary […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Advent, Christmas, joy, podcast, sermon notes, Sermon Slides

When Hope Comes Unexpectedly



When Hope Comes Unexpectedly

HOPE: to cherish a desire with anticipation, to expect with confidence, trust Read: Luke 1:16-38 NIV   Immanuel – God with us. The Presence of God in our world radically changes the nature of how we see and live each day. The Light of Christ shows us the world as it is and brings us the HOPE […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Advent, Christmas, hope, Mary, pregnant

Why we need Light



Why we need Light

Advent, like Lent has strong themes of preparation, of waiting, of the coming dawn. And the story started a long time ago. Why did God decide to be born a man? Why was a rescue plan of this magnitude needed? It all started way back in at the beginning of beginnings:  Read Genesis 3:8-19 We all […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Advent, Christmas, light, Pause, Ponder, Prepare

Will Your Faith Survive?



Will Your Faith Survive?

What is FAITH? Simple Definitions Quiz Match the words Faith, Hope, & Trust to their corresponding definition.  (1) Once, all villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all people gather and only one boy came with an umbrella — That’s called _______ (2) Example of feeling of a one year old […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    belief, believing, faith, Faith Survivors, hope, obstacles, real faith, survivors

Faith that Matures



Faith that Matures

In Part 1 of our series, Faith that Works, we described the essential elements that distinguishes faith from belief. Belief is a mental activity that agrees with something, but does not necessarily act on it. Belief is essentially passive in nature. Faith, however, is active and risks life and limb out of a deep sense of trust […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    belief, believing, Clive Staples Lewis, CS Lewis, faith, hope

Faith that Works



Faith that Works

Faith has two elements: 1) being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality, having evidence of unseen things, and 2) then acting upon those truths to achieve a certain outcome. “There are things, say in learning to swim or to climb, which look dangerous and aren’t. Your instructor tells you it’s safe. You have […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    belief, believing, C.S. Lewis, Clive Staples Lewis, CS Lewis, faith, hope, Mark 2:1-12, paralytic on mat

Finding your Unspeakable Joy



Finding your Unspeakable Joy

The time for Joy is now.  As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: “It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    joy, sermon

The Secret Life of a Saint



The Secret Life of a Saint

“[Saint Anthony] said, in his solitude, he sometimes encountered devils who looked like angels, and other times he found angels who looked like devils. When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint said that you can only tell which is which by the way you feel after the creature has left your company.”― Elizabeth […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life    All Saints Sunday, Christian, disciples, faith, Saints, Witness

The Spiritual Life of Hoarders: Coming Clean



The Spiritual Life of Hoarders: Coming Clean

See Part 1 of the Spiritual life of a Hoarder The TV show “Hoarders” documents people who are unable to part with their belongings – to the point where they are on the verge of a personal crisis because their “stuff” takes over their homes and even their lives.     ”Hoarders” features the true stories about […]

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general, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    addiction, affluence, Clean, fear, financial, giving, Healing, hoarder, money, Rich Young Ruler, stewardship

The Spiritual Life of Hoarders



The Spiritual Life of Hoarders

The TV show “Hoarders” documents people who are unable to part with their belongings – to the point where they are on the verge of a personal crisis because their “stuff” takes over their homes and even their lives. Sometimes we’re no different – especially as it concerns our gifts, forgiveness, or even our money […]

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general, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship    fear, financial, giving, hoarder, money, stewardship

Living in Pursuit of God’s Heart



Living in Pursuit of God’s Heart

In the movie “The Bucket List” Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are two of the most unlikeliest of characters who are thrown together because of they share a common enemy, DEATH. They have both been diagnosed with cancer. They now come face to face with Ultimate Truth, perhaps for the first time, they are mortal. […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Theology    Bucket List, David, death, faith, forgiven, God's heart, heaven, King, psalms, shepherd

Getting Back on Track



Getting Back on Track

   We’re all sojourners, refugees in a foreign land and to some extent, nomads. We cannot stay here on Earth forever, our destination lies beyond to a place we’ve never been before, or can’t remember if we did. We wander through life trying to find our way, hearing music that sounds familiar but we can’t quite place. We’re like […]

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Christ Centered, Evangelical, Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    discipleship, Evangelism, Gospel, Scripture, service

Charting a New Course



Charting a New Course

There’s just something odd about the human heart. We just can’t seem to get it together. Throughout the centuries we’ve been at war with each other, struggled through famine, drought and disease yet we never seem to learn from our mistakes. It’s almost as if we can’t help ourselves. We fight to have more of […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Gospel, journey, redemption, sin

The Gospel Journey part 2



The Gospel Journey part 2

   There was an interesting experiment done in the 1920 that examined our inability to walk in a straight line while blindfolded. It seems that we all are curiously unable to walk in a straight line without some sort of external reference to know when we’re off course. As a result, we continue to walk […]

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Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Theology, video, worship    crooked, gone astray, Gospel, lost, NPR, purity, sin, straight, video

The Gospel Journey part 1



The Gospel Journey part 1

     I had a conversation this week about the purpose of the church, it’s mission and even about its ability to help us make sense of our lives in the  confusing, chaotic world in which we live. It seems that we’re all a bit confused, perhaps even conflicted, by the relevance of our faith […]

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Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Theology, video, worship    crooked, gone astray, Gospel, lost, NPR, purity, sin, straight, video

Keepers of the Miracle



Keepers of the Miracle

Have you ever thought of your life as a miracle? No? Why not? You should you know. Have you ever thought of your daily routine as a gift, a privileged, or as a journey worth sharing? No? Why not?  Have you bought into Solomon’s curse “and there’s nothing new under the sun”?  Over the past 100 […]

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Communion, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    awareness, church, communion, future, identity, Isaiah, miracle

Anatomy of Love



Anatomy of Love

The Three Simple Rules Life can be complicated at times. We often feel scattered and overwhelmed. We come to church seeking peace and direction. We come hoping to gain perspective and fulfillment. Drawing parallels between Wesley’s time and the world today, the feelings of disenfranchisement, doubt and fear are much the same. But Wesley’s three […]

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John Wesley, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life    3 Simple Rules, anatomy of Love, church, commitment, intimacy, passion, Stay in love with God

Creating A Life Worth Remembering



Creating A Life Worth Remembering

What could be more valuable than gathering and passing along all of the knowledge and wisdom you’ve acquired over your lifetime?  Imagine how powerful it would be for every coming generation to learn from each impactful thought and critical decision you’ve made in your lifetime. Imagine how redeeming it would be to transform each stumble and […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Centennial, future, legacy, life, meaning, remembering, sermon

3 Simple Rules: Stay in love with God



3 Simple Rules: Stay in love with God

      So how is it that we can spend our entire lives in the church…working for Christ…serving the church…going to meetings…reaching out to hurting people…worshiping and joining in prayer with other Christians…and not be madly in love with God?    As Rev. McShane writes, “We miss it…we skim right over the first, the most important, […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    3 Simple Rules, Bible Study, discipleship, intentional, John Wesley, prayer, Sacraments, Scriptures, Stay in love with God, worship

Facing Your Lions with Confidence



Facing Your Lions with Confidence

    We all face lions, those beasts that threaten our security, keep us awake at night with fear and consume our identity. They come in different forms, economic lions, illness lions, career lions just to name a few.  They are indifferent to our good intentions, social standing, education or wealth. They affect everyone in […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    daniel, Daniel 6, fight, flight, integrity, Lion's Den, lions

3 Simple Rules: Do Good



3 Simple Rules: Do Good

The Three Simple Rules      Life can be complicated at times. We often feel scattered and overwhelmed. We come to church seeking peace and direction. We come hoping to gain perspective and fulfillment. Drawing parallels between Wesley’s time and the world today, the feelings of disenfranchisement, doubt and fear are much the same. But […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    3 Simple Rules, complaining, criticism, discipleship, Do Good, Good Samaritan, intentional, John Wesley, Luke 10, negativity

3 Simple Rules: Do No Harm



3 Simple Rules: Do No Harm

The Three Simple Rules      Life can be complicated at times. We often feel scattered and overwhelmed. We come to church seeking peace and direction. We come hoping to gain perspective and fulfillment. Drawing parallels between Wesley’s time and the world today, the feelings of disenfranchisement, doubt and fear are much the same. But […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    3 Simple Rules, complaining, criticism, discipleship, Do no Harm, intentional, John Wesley, negativity

A Crisis of Faith



A Crisis of Faith

Sometimes storms simply come out of nowhere. No matter how much we plan, prepare or protect what we love, storms are unpredictable and sometimes devastating. They clear away all the false beliefs we cling to, useless possessions that define us, or priorities that are powerless to give life real meaning or significance.  Storms reveal that life […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    disciples, galilee, Jesus, Matthew 8, sermon, sermon notes, storm, worship

Finding Inspiration



Finding Inspiration

Inspiration God wants our devotion even in the little things of life. Tomorrow is Monday morning again. We could wake up depressed at the thought of another working week, or we could wake up thinking about how we might bring glory to God through the way we live, the way we speak, the way we […]

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Book, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    1 Timothy 1, affirmation, Chosen, Energized, Equipped, mission, Monday, motivation, rest, Scripture

Reality of Monday: Temptation



Reality of Monday: Temptation

Temptation bait without a hook, choice without consequences, motion without meaning. Each day we are tempted by the choices we’re offered and by the choices we avoid. Remember no decision is still a decision.  Each Sunday we pray “Deliver us from temptation…” but do we look for it or expect it to come Monday Morning. […]

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Book, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    affirmation, burnout, Elijah, Matthew 3, mission, Monday, rest, Scripture, temptation

Reality of Monday: Burnout



Reality of Monday: Burnout

What happens when Sunday People live in a Monday Morning World?     Have you ever noticed that the energy and enthusiasm you have on Sunday fades when you finally come to Monday Morning? Have you ever witnessed good church going people act like Attila the Hun at a restaurant, grocery store, or on the highway? Have […]

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Book, sermon notes, Sermon Slides    1 Kings 19, burnout, Elijah, Monday, rest

Centered in Communion



Centered in Communion

Summer offers us something no other season can: Perspective. During the summer months we plan for family vacations, reunions, outdoor activities and a chance to look back at all we’ve done and ask if it was all worth it.  Each month we celebrate Holy communion for the same reasons: Perspective. Through the Lord’s Supper we […]

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Communion, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    1 Corinthians, Eucharist, Holy Communion, Lord's Supper, summer

Mandie Johnson Funeral Service



Mandie Johnson Funeral Service

Mandane E. “Mandie” Johnson, 81, of Williamstown, W.Va., passed away at her residence on May, 17, 2012. She was born June 7, 1930, in Shinnston, W.Va., a daughter of the late Roy and Sylvia Lyons. She worked as an administrative assistant for over 40-plus years for Ray and Audra Fuentes and previously had been employed […]

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Funeral    funeral, Mandie Johnson

A Fire in the Belly



A Fire in the Belly

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” Marshal Foch Have you ever felt like you’re stuck, trapped or so far in a rut you don’t know the path you’re on? Some times you wonder whether there even is a path and in moments of desperation give up believing life is more […]

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First United Methodist Church, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    integrity, MLK, Rediscoving Lost Values, truth, values, wisdom

A Community of Values



A Community of Values

Priorities reflect our Values Passion reflects our Vision Persistence reflects View “The More choices you have, the more your values matter.” Michael Schrage This week we’ve been celebrating our graduates and their future. We’ve watched them grow, we taught them God’s plan, and we’ve offered them the love and security of a church family.  But at this […]

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First United Methodist Church, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    integrity, MLK, Rediscoving Lost Values, truth, values, wisdom

Finding Joy



Finding Joy

When we ask ourselves that basic of all questions, “What am I doing here” we judge the responses based on our instinctive desire to find joy. For example, if I say I’m here to work and build a comfortable life for myself, that answer is evaluated by this standard – “ok, but will that bring […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    audio, Gospel Joy, Pharisee, sermon, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Simon

3 Most Important Spiritual Questions



3 Most Important Spiritual Questions

Ephesians 1. This book has had a profound impact on my life: Who I understand God to be; all that he has accomplished for me in Christ; how I view myself as a result; what I value and live for; how I view others inside the Church; outside the Church; how the Gospel transforms my […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides    Ephesians, Inward, Martyn Lloyd Jones, mission, Outward, purpose, Scripture, Upward

Called to be a Healing Community



Called to be a Healing Community

The story of Jesus healing the paralytic in Mark 2:1-14 is more than just another example of Jesus’ power of healing and restoration, it is also the dedication and compassion of a group that brought this paralytic to Jesus. It is not enough to know the truth if you never do anything with it. It […]

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Evangelism, First United Methodist Church, Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Values    church, compassion, Gospel of Mark, Healing, Jesus, Mark, miracle, mission, paralytic

Baptism Celebration



Baptism Celebration

Today we celebrated the Baptism of Ashlee Mullinex Audio of Baptism Service Baptism of Ashlee Mullinex Related posts: Remember Your Baptism Remember Your Baptism Transformed by Baptism Baptism: Beyond Words

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Communion, Sacraments, worship    Baptism, mullinex, Sacrament

Remember Your Baptism



Remember Your Baptism

A Gift from God an Affirmation of Faith A Promise Forever! “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.”  ~ C.S. Lewis Life is a series of Remembrances (1) What you’ve learned – know to be true (tests & trials) “I once was lost, but now I found, was blind but […]

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Baptism, Sacraments, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Baptism, church, commitment, covenant, mission, Sacrament

Beyond the Walls



Beyond the Walls

For the most part we already know the basics of the Easter story. What I mean is we know the timeline. Palm Sunday is followed by the Lord’s Supper (although we may not call it Maundy Thursday or know that it is derived from the Latin “mandatum” for command. Check out John 13:34 to see […]

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sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Beyond the Walls, celebrate, Certainty, Easter, fear, grace, Notes, sacrifice, sermon, service, slides, sorrow, walls

Palm Sunday: Staying Power



Palm Sunday: Staying Power

  Based on Matthew 21:1-4 Sermon Notes 04.01.12 Staying Power Announcement Slides 4.01.12 Worship 04.01.12 Palm Sunday Late Service   Early Service   Related posts: Footprints: Staying Power Beyond the Walls What is Heaven? part 1 The Pursuit of Heaven part 4

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Communion, Lent, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    comfort, convenience, convictions, discipleship, Palm Sunday, sacrifice, staying power

Noncanonical Gospels IV



Noncanonical Gospels IV

With the discover of the Gospel of Thomas in 1943 in Nag Hammadi, there has been renewed interest in the importance of the Non-Canonical Gospel as important revelation of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. As we continue to study the source and significance of the Gospels collectively it is only appropriate to consider the relevance of […]

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leadership, Lent    Arian controversy, Docestism, Gnostic, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Gospels, noncanonical

Invited: a message on Heaven



Invited: a message on Heaven

His Italian mother named him after the gospel writer, Mark in the hopes that he too would tell the gospel truth. It is ironic that, later when he wrote a bestselling book on his world travels, cynics nicknamed it Il Milione: .The Book of a Million Lies.. And Mark, whose mother hoped would grow up […]

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Heaven, Lent, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life, worship    busyness, destractions, distraction, heaven, indifference, invitation, parable, Paul, prize, pursuit, race, Wedding Banquet, Wedding Feast

The Pursuit of Heaven part 4



The Pursuit of Heaven part 4

Heaven is not a place you go to, It is a place you grow to. Heaven is the gift of what you pursue in life. If your life is dominated by the pursuit of self-indulgent pleasure and privilege you will be rewarded by living in a world of hoarding and scarcity. If you live by giving and […]

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Heaven, Lent, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life, worship    1 Corinthians 9, destractions, heaven, Paul, prize, pursuit, race

The Gospel of Luke



The Gospel of Luke

    During the season of Lent we will be taking an indepth look at the each of the four Gospels and considering how each Gospel was written, why some stories were included and not others and why the wording is different in each. In the process we will discover that each of the writers […]

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Bible Study Tools, Discipleship, Important, Inspirational, Lent, Theology    Christ, Christos, Euangellion, Gospel, Gospel of Luke, Gospel Series, Jesus, lecture, literary criticism, Luke, Messiah, redaction criticism, teaching

The Gospel of Matthew (lecture 2)



The Gospel of Matthew (lecture 2)

During the season of Lent we will be taking an indepth look at the each of the four Gospels and considering how each Gospel was written, why some stories were included and not others and why the wording is different in each. In the process we will discover that each of the writers has a […]

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Bible Study Tools, Discipleship, Important, Inspirational, Lent, Theology    Christ, Christos, Euangellion, Gospel, Gospel Series, Jesus, lecture, literary criticism, Matthew, Messiah, redaction criticism, synoptic, teaching

Splendor of Heaven part 3



Splendor of Heaven part 3

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”  Colossians 3:1-2 Have you ever been invited to a wedding celebration? Often there is […]

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Heaven, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life, Theology, worship    apologetics, beauty, death, eternity, heaven, John the Apostle, Revelation, revelations

The Gospel of Mark



The Gospel of Mark

During the season of Lent we will be taking an indepth look at the each of the four Gospels and considering how each Gospel was written, why some stories were included and not others and why the wording is different in each. In the process we will discover that each of the writers has a […]

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Bible Study Tools, Discipleship, Important, Inspirational, Lent, Theology    Christ, Christos, Euangellion, Gospel, Gospel Series, Jesus, lecture, literary criticism, Mark, Messiah, redaction criticism, teaching

Heaven 2: The Journey Home



Heaven 2: The Journey Home

Are you looking forward to heaven and what God has planned or is it all simply wishful thinking? Does Heaven fill you heart with wonder, excitement and enthusiasm or fear and loathing? In the midst of pain, trials and difficulties, why should we be talking about Heavent? When Jesus knew he was facing the cross and that […]

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Heaven, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life, Theology, worship    apologetics, beauty, CS Lewis, death, eternity, heaven, Revelation

What is Heaven? part 1



What is Heaven? part 1

Why are we not satisfied with this world as it is? Why do we long for beauty, love and fulfillment? Why is pain, suffering and death so revolting and something we fight against? John Lennon in his song “Imagine” suggests we ignore the reality of Heaven and the after life in favor a more immediate […]

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Heaven, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Spiritual Life, Theology, worship    apologetics, beauty, CS Lewis, death, eternity, heaven, Revelation

Ash Wednesday Service 2012



Ash Wednesday Service 2012

February 22, 1012      The season of Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the sacred observance of Christ’s death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter. In Lent, we recognize we are simply dust and ashes without Christ, we confess our sins to God, and we […]

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Lent, Liturgy, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Ash Wednesday, audio, Lent, Liturgy, podcast, slides, worship

Tomorrow’s Seeds



Tomorrow’s Seeds

I’m always amazed at how little planning, thinking and preparing for the future we do these days. Infants tend to be short term thinkers, crying when their demands aren’t met, but as adults we’re to have a longer perspective on things that this. We tend to be short term thinkers, dealing with the Tyranny of […]

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Bible Study Tools, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Bible, Long-Term, pathway to Life, Seed, Short-Term, Sower, Word

A Sacred Meal



A Sacred Meal

Church means many different things to many people. To some it is an event, a building, an organization, a place on the map, a charity, and a group of people. When we actually consider getting involved in “a church” we are bombarded by all kinds of internal questions: What will I get out of this? […]

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Christ Centered, Communion, Communion, Sacraments, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Values, worship    Christ Centered, communion, Eucharist, Lord's Supper, Sacrament, sermon notes, values, worship

Sunday Worship



Sunday Worship

This past Sunday, February 5, 2012, was a gift of inspiration and Hope from Joe Webb.   Related posts: Palm Sunday: Staying Power Beyond the Walls Centennial Moments – Centennial Sunday 8.12.12 What is Heaven? part 1

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worship    Joe Webb, Revelation

The Challenges of Following Jesus



The Challenges of Following Jesus

   Following Jesus is never as easy as some would have you think. If you are experiencing times of doubt, troubles, grief, anxiety, fear, and depression, you are in company with the Apostle Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, David, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph … well you get the pictures. Life is difficult and being a […]

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First United Methodist Church, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Values    annual report, church, disciple, discipleship, State of the Church

Where Are You?



Where Are You?

In the midst of hectic life, it’s easy to get lost. We rise to the top of our profession to realize we were climbing the wrong ladder. God, what happened? How did my life end up like this? Where is the peace that passes all understanding? Where am I, can someone help me, please? When […]

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Centennial Moment, Discipleship, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    celebrate, Connect, Contribute, discipleship, Lead, Lead to Christ, learn, learn from christ, live, live in christ, process, sermon, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, You are Here

You Are Here pt1



You Are Here pt1

When we became Christians we entered a process in which the life of Christ became the air we breathe, the blood which courses through our veins and the wisdom that guides our thoughts and actions. To know what the next step is in our spiritual growth, we must first know where we are and where […]

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Centennial Moment, Discipleship, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    celebrate, Connect, Contribute, discipleship, process, sermon, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, You are Here

So What? Now What?



So What? Now What?

“Herod was disturbed, and all of Jerusalem with him.”  Matthew 2:1-12 When we stop to consider all the activities of Christmas we are left with two questions: “So What? Now What?” When Herod encounter the Magi, he was disturbed by their presence, their questions and their conviction to travel so far. The problem was that […]

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Christ Centered, Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    apatheist, apathy, choice, decision, Disccover, Epiphany, indifference, New Year, Share, trust

The WHY of Christmas



The WHY of Christmas

“At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matthew 11:25-26 When we get past all the frenzy of the Christmas experience, what’s left with the nagging […]

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Christ Centered, Christmas, Kingdom Focused, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Christ, Christ Centered, Christmas, discipleship, First United Methodist Church, growth, hope, Jesus, Kingdom focused, peace, podcast, preaching, reason, sermon, Sermon Audio, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, sermons, Study, Why

Christmas Eve: The Great Story of Christmas



Christmas Eve: The Great Story of Christmas

The Great Story of God This is a transcript of the service used on December 24, 2011. It is a closer look at the characters, circumstances and context that combine to make each piece part of the Greater Story of Christmas. No one character had all the pieces of the puzzle at the time, but […]

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Christmas, First United Methodist Church, Illustration, Important, Inspirational, prayer, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    angels, Bible, Christmas, Christmas Eve, drama, God, Gospels, Joseph, Luke, Mary, Matthew, Nativity, podcast, Scripture, sermon notes, shepherd, story, wisemen

My Crazy Christmas Family



My Crazy Christmas Family

We all have them, family members that cling desperately to the family tree you’re just positive dropped from a high branch at one time or another. We all have those crazy uncles, aunts or cousins that we just don’t talk about much, but you know they’re part of your gene pool. And if you can’t […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Advent, Christ, Christmas, cousin, crazy, Elizabeth, family, First United Methodist Church, hope, John, John the Baptist, love, passion, peace, podcast, preaching, purpose, sermon, Sermon Audio, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, sermons, urgency, Zechariah

Does God Ask Too Much?



Does God Ask Too Much?

We must never loose sight of the fact that God engaged Mary and Joseph in a life story they did not fully understand, after all who could understand what God was up to when He decides to use an unwed teenage girl to give birth out of wedlock. It is nothing less than… Scandalous! I’m […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Advent, Christ, Christmas, First United Methodist Church, hope, innkeeper, Nativity, peace, podcast, preaching, sermon, Sermon Audio, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, sermons

Is There Room for Christ at Your Inn?



Is There Room for Christ at Your Inn?

Our expectations are critical in giving us goals and standards for which to strive. Yet we can also be blinded by our expectations too! Each Year we prepare for Christmas with a flurry of activity, partly due to fear, guilt and competition to have the best dinner party, find the best gift or have the […]

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Christmas, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Advent, Christ, Christmas, First United Methodist Church, hope, innkeeper, Nativity, peace, podcast, preaching, sermon, Sermon Audio, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, sermons

Vital Signs: Heart Check-up



Vital Signs: Heart Check-up

Generosity is a matter of Action, Intention and Heart. It is reorienting my perspective on what life is means and what God is doing through my life. Generosity is natural response to God’s Love in Christ.  Scripture Verse: Mark 10:17-23 Download our 2011 FUMC Stewardship Pledge Form Sermon Notes   “Satisfying Our Hunger for God” Lord, How […]

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First United Methodist Church, Pledge, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship, worship    affluence, commitment, covenant, Ephesians, Finance, Greed, help, honesty, integrity, love, Materialism, money, offering, pledge, pledge card, podcast, power, semon notes, sermon, Sermon Slides, stewardship, truth

Blinded by Greed



Blinded by Greed

A great deal of our culture and lifestyle is driven by Greed. Greed in our world is a very strong desire and is changes who we are! And you know what? It’s always been like that, since the beginning of time. Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus was teaching to a crowd of people who were following […]

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First United Methodist Church, Pledge, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Stewardship, worship    affluence, commitment, covenant, Ephesians, Finance, Greed, help, honesty, integrity, love, Materialism, money, offering, pledge, pledge card, podcast, power, semon notes, sermon, Sermon Slides, stewardship, truth

Speak the Truth in Love



Speak the Truth in Love

“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will […]

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Communion, Sacraments, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, worship    Blood, Body, Bread, confession, Ephesians, Ephesians 4, Eucharist, help, Holy Communion, honesty, integrity, Lord's Supper, love, Michael Novak, podcast, redemption, self-deception, semon notes, sermon, Sermon Slides, speak, truth, Wine
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Dr. Steve Gedon

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