Sermons from 2024 (Page 3)
Living Life Through a Lens of Gratitude
Certified Lay Minister Dakota Koenig from UMC Vista brings us a message about living in gratitude.
Wandering Heart… And I Hope
Happy Easter! Today we contemplate HOPE… what that meant and how it came for Peter and what it means for us in the context of our lives and world.
Wandering Heart… Songs of Loudest Praise
On Palm Sunday, after everything the disciples had been through, after everything Peter knew (and still didn’t know) about Jesus, what must he have felt as he watched Jesus and heard the hopeful songs of the crowd?
Wandering Heart…Teach Me
We are quickly approaching the events of Holy Week but make one last stop with Peter and Jesus as Peter asks a sincere question of his teacher…how many times do I forgive?
Wandering Heart…I’m Fixed Upon It
Today’s scripture passage opens our eyes to the fact that Peter, while he had the right words, didn’t entirely have the right understanding. He was “fixed” on the notion of a Messiah who would free them from Roman rule, but Jesus had other plans. Peter’s experience invites us to reflect on our experience. What happens to us in the face of tough times? How do we hold the reality of suffering, our own or others, alongside a belief in a loving God?
Wandering Heart…Praise the Mount
Today we consider Jesus question, “Who do you say that I am?” along with Simon’s response. This interaction invites us to reflect on our own faith journeys. When have we seen Jesus clearly and how do we speak with conviction about what we know? What we believe?
Wandering Heart… Rescue Me from Danger
What does it mean to be “rescued” or “saved” by Christ? How do we trust in God’s saving power while bearing witness to so much suffering in the world?
Wandering Heart… Jesus Sought Me
As we explore Peter’s calling we’ll also reflect on the beginning of our faith stories. When and how did Jesus seek us? How are we responding to God’s call?
When Things Go Downhill
How did that mountaintop moment change or equip Jesus and the disciples for what was ahead as Jesus’ path takes a decisive turn toward Jerusalem and the cross? How do moments of light, awe, wonder and glory change and equip us for the ups and downs of life’s journey?
Seeking
Our scripture reading from Mark invites us to reflect on the notion of “seeking.” When and how does “seeking” impede the movement of the Spirit and when and how does it lead us deeper into relationship, light and life?