United Methodist Chucks

Today's message is the last in our Christmas Spirit series and covers the "Spirit of Acceptance." What can we learn from the acceptance of the Holy Spirit? What about the acceptance of the early disciples? How can we practice God's radical love? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Today's scripture readings come from Acts 8:14-17 and Luke 3:15-17,21-22. There will be no new message next week, as I will be on vacation.

Our next message in Christmas Spirit is "Spirit of Praise." We often focus on the wise men brining gifts, but what happens after? How did that gift of praise impact others? How do we keep a spirit of praise year round? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Our scripture readings come from Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

Our first series after Christmas is Christmas Spirit. Our first message is "Spirit of Growth" and we look at how we keep Christmas with us. After the holiday is over, what happens to all that good will? The kindness? Keep the Spirit of Christmas with you all through the year. Our scripture readings come from 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 and Luke 2:41-52.

Tonight we have a special Christmas Eve message. "Child of Light" is the final message of Advent Children. How do we keep Christ in Christmas? Love. Merry Christmas to you all!

"Child of Peace" is our last Sunday in Advent Children. As we look to Christmas we ask a difficult question. How does one prepare for peace? What does peace mean to us? How do we share peace? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Micah 5:2-5a.

Our third installment of Advent Children is "Child of Redemption" and looks at our salvation. What does it mean to be redeemed by God? Do we act as if we are saved? Do we show thankfulness? Do we share that gift with others, freely and joyfully? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Zephaniah 3:14-20.

Our second message in Advent Children is "Child of Righteousness" and continues our Advent preparation. Can we make ourselves righteous on our own? What really lasts in our lives? What does it mean to be made righteous? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Malachi 3:1-4.

We start our Advent series today. "Child of Promise" is the first sermon in the Advent Children series. How do we see God's promise in Jeremiah? Is it about the birth of the Messiah? Jesus in our lives today? Christ yet to come? Or is it all those things? We experience the advent of Christ as a child of God. Our scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 33:14-16.

The third message in 3 Simple Rules is "Stay In Love With God" and it looks at our personal devotion. John Wesley was a little wordier with his rule, but it easily translates to staying in love with God. Do we think about being in love with God? Do we act in God's love in all that we do? How can we keep God's love as our central thought? What does it all mean for us as Christians?  Let us do no harm, do good, and love God. Our scripture reading comes from Mark 12:28-34.

Our next message in 3 Simple Rules is "Do Good," and is our second rule. Last week we discussed first doing no harm. But what is it really to do good? Good for ourselves? Or for others? Do we think about the good it does to us to do good for others? And do we keep Christ in mind is all that we do? Let us do no harm, do good, and love God. Our scripture reading comes from Luke 6:27-38.

Today's message is the first in the series 3 Simple Rules, based on the teaching of John Wesley. Our first rule is "Do No Harm." What does it mean to harm others? Does it happen without us realizing? Why is this the first rule? How can we do a better job of not being a stumbling block to those seeking Christ? Let us do no have, do good, and love God. Our scripture reading comes from Romans 14:13-23.

The last message in this installment of The Word in Song is "If Everyone Cared" and comes on All Saints Sunday. As we remember those who have passed from this life, do we do so with hope? Do we wait patiently for the kingdom? Or are we called to something greater? Where is our hope? Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, and hear the Word in song! Our scripture reading comes from Isaiah 65:17-25. The musical inspiration is from "If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback.

The latest in The Word in Song is the ever popular "Never Gonna Give You Up" inspired by the music of Rick Astley. When troubles hit, who go we turn to? Will God ever walk away from us? How do we combat fear, hate, and lies? Know that God will be there. Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, and hear the Word in song! The scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 31:31-38. The musical inspiration is "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.

Today's installment of The Word in Song is "Love's Divine" and finds inspiration in the song of that title by Seal. What is love? What isn't love? Do we still act childish? How does love help us know who we are? Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, and hear the Word in song! I scripture reading comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The musical inspiration comes from "Love's Divine" by Seal.

As we continue in The Word in Song, we come to "Happy." This familiar reading might sound strange, but it makes us ask an important question. Are we happy? What do we have to be happy about? What does Jesus say about being happy? Does God make us happy? Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, and hear the Word in song! Our scripture reading comes from Matthew 5:1-12. The musical inspiration comes from "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.

Today marks the beginning of our third installment of The Word in Song with "Hungry Heart." What does your heart long for? What do you desire? It it good? Is it bad? Do we consider our intentions when we act? The intentions of others? What does God want? Find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, and hear the Word in song! Our scripture reading comes from Jeremiah 17:9-14. Our musical inspiration comes from "Hungry Heart" by Bruce Springsteen.

The last message of our Lens of Christ series revolves around an important meeting. "Claimed by Christ" looks at the law of circumcision and the gospel. Are the laws meant to drive us apart? If Christ brings us together, how do we handle the law? What happens when tradition divides instead of unites? We see things differently when we see things through Christ. Our scripture readings come from  Genesis 17:9-14 and Acts 15:1-21.

The next message in the Lens of Christ series is "Contamination." When we look at the Old Testament dietary law, how do we understand it? How does Jesus change out understanding of this? What can we learn from these rules about cleanliness? About contamination? What makes us truly clean? We see things differently when we see things through Christ. Our scripture readings come from Deuteronomy 14:3-21 and Mark 7:14-23.

We continue to look at the letter and spirit of the law in our series Lens of Christ. This week we look at "Law and Punishment" as we compare the Old Testament laws on adultery to the New Testament account of Christ and the woman caught in adultery. What happens when we use the law for unrighteous reasons? What happens when we then judgement inward? We see things differently when we see things through Christ. Our scripture readings come from Deuteronomy 22:22-24 and John 8:2-11.

We begin a new series this Sunday called Lens of Christ. Our first message is "On the Sabbath" and in it we look at the Old Testament and the New Testament and the Sabbath. What is the difference between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law? What does Jesus teach us about the Sabbath? And what do we learn from his response to the Pharisees? We see things differently when we see things through Christ. Our scripture readings come from Numbers 15:32-36 and Mark 2:23-3:6.