Messages that Build a Christ Connection
Can You Explain That To Me?
Let’s face it: sometimes, Jesus’ stories are just, well let’s say, hard to understand. We think, “What does that mean?” We also wonder why He spoke so often using parables.
Well, we’re in good company. The disciples often asked Jesus to explain His stories.
In our series, “Can You Explain That To Me?” we will look at several parables, many of them quite famous, that needed some extra explanation from Jesus.
Come join us!
July 12 The Sower and the Seed Video Text
July 19 The Weeds in the Field
July 26 Mustard Seeds, Treasures, and Pearls
August 2 The Fishing Net
Faith of the Centurion
Kathy Kitchel talked about how the faith of a Gentile army commander gives us an example for our faith in Christ.
July 5 “Faith of the Centurion” Video
Kingdom Attitude
Occasionally, there are turning points in human history that are transformative. Today and every day after is different from yesterday and days before that. The discovery of fire. The invention of the wheel. The ability to sail, ride, or fly to a destination. Electricity. The telephone. The internet. Everything has changed; the future will never be the same.
In what has been called the greatest sermon every preached, Jesus laid out principles of life that have stood the test of time. They are completely counter-intuitive to everything we think makes a successful, accomplished, and modern person. They change the future into something never imagined before.
In our message series “Kingdom Attitude”, we examined Matthew 5:1-12 and the Beatitudes.
May 3 Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Video Text
May 10 Blessed are Those who Mourn Video Text
May 17 Blessed are the Meek Audio Text
May 24 Blessed are Those who Hunger Audio Text
May 31 Blessed are the Merciful Audio Text
June 7 Blessed are the Pure in Heart Audio Text
June 14 Blessed are the Peacemakers Audio Text
June 21 Blessed are Those who are Persecuted Audio Text
June 28 Blessed are Those who are Mocked Text
Jesus is Passing By
We looked at Luke 18:31-42 and saw how blind we all can be through the story of Jesus giving sight to a blind man.
April 26 Jesus is Passing By Video Text
Changed: A Lenten Journey in John
Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness and enduring temptation by Satan. This solemn religious observance is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, repentance, denying oneself, self-reflection, and giving to others.
During Lent, our series will be “Changed: A Lenten Journey in John.” We will work our way through the Gospel of John on our way to Calvary and the Garden Tomb. We will look at how God wants to change us, transform us, through this season of Lent.
Come join us!
February 26 “A Changed Beginning” Audio Text
March 1 “A Changed Direction” Audio Text
March 8 “A Changed Existence” Audio Text
March 15 “A Changed Life” Video Text
March 22 “A Changed View of Others” Video Text
March 29 “A Changed View of Death” Video Text
April 5 “A Changed View of What’s Important” Text
April 12 “A Changed Sunday” Text
April 19 “A Changed Future” Audio Text
It Doesn’t Make Sense
We’ve all faced situations and tragedies that did not seem to make sense. There seems to be certain things in life that, on the surface, do not make sense. An untimely death. Unexpected trouble at the worst possible time in your life.
In fact, Jesus said some things that just don’t make sense:
- “Love your enemy…” (Matthew 5:44)
- “Turn the other cheek…” Matthew 5:39)
- “This is my Body…” (Matthew 26:26)
The Cross is that way as well. Once considered shame as the symbol of a horrific mode of execution, the Cross is today the symbol of the Christian Church and believers for two millennium. But it’s the message of the Cross that the world misses.
We looked at the power of the Cross to reach into our lives and make sense of things.
February 2 “It Doesn’t Make Sense” Text
Step It Up
“Step It Up.” This was not a series to get us all walking and exercising. Instead, it was more along the lines of what we are saying about the Reds or the Bengals or the Browns: they need to step up their game.
In light of the potential split in the United Methodist Church with a General Conference meeting in May, we looked at what we here in Germantown need to do to step up our game.
January 5 “We Need to Step It Up” Text
January 12 “My Reading of Scripture” Text
January 19 “My Going Out In Mission”
January 26 “My Faith in the Future” Text
The Gospel According to Christmas Carols
During Advent, we looked at the incredible theology in Christmas carols and beautiful music of the Christmas carols we sing every year. We learned what they teach us (and at times mislead us) about the story of the birth of Jesus.
Beautiful music. Great lyrics. Cool information. All leading to Jesus. What a great Christmas gift!
December 1 “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Text
December 8 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Text
December 15 “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” Text
December 22 “Away in a Manger” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Text
December 24 “Silent Night” Text
December 29 “Joy to the World” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” Text
40 Days of Purpose
No matter who you are: rich or poor; famous or not; woman or man; single or married; child, teen, or adult; preacher or lay person – everyone one of us wants to know “Why am I alive? Does my life matter? Is there a purpose in my life? And where do I find the answers to these questions?”
Our church went through “40 Days of Purpose” using Rick Warren’s book “Purpose Driven Life”. We explored what the Bible has to say, for it is our owner’s manual from the One that created us and loves us.
September 8 “What on Earth am I Here For?” Audio Text
September 15 “You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure” Audio Text
September 22 “You Were Formed for God’s Family” (delivered by Myra Wheeler due to illness) Audio Text
September 29 “You Were Created to Become Like Christ” Audio Text
October 6 “You Were Shaped for Serving God” Audio Text
October 13 “You Were Made for a Mission” Audio Text
A Study of the Book of Revelation
What are you scared of? What frightens you?
Spiders? Snakes? Bats? Dark rooms? Loud noises? Thunderstorms?
Revelation?
There are a bunch of people afraid of the Book of Revelation. It’s frightening. It’s confusing. It’s dire. Best just to stay away from it.
But the Book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing to those who read and obey it’s message.
We looked at the Book of Revelation from a Wesleyan perspective and found the praise, predictions, and purpose in the book, then strengthen for the days ahead.
June 9 “I Can’t Understand It: An Introduction” Audio Text
June 16 “Christ Has Conquered” Audio Text
June 23 “Christ’s Message to the Churches” Audio Text
July 7 “Worship in Heaven” Audio Text
July 14 “The Lamb Who Was Slain” Audio Text
July 21 “The Judgments Come – Part 1” Audio Text
July 28 “The Judgments Come – Part 2” Audio Text
August 11 “Where Are We?” Audio Text
August 18 “Evil Personified” Audio Text
August 25 “The Final Battle” Audio Text
September 1 “The End and the Beginning” Audio Text
“Spiritual Metamorphosis”
Kathy Kitchel shared a message from Ephesians 2:4-9.
August 4 “Spiritual Metamorphosis” Audio
Beloved of God
Many Christians read their Bible, and when they find a verse that really speaks to them, they will underline or highlight the verse, in part as a marker of Scriptural truth, as well as a reminder of God’s revelation to them. John 3:16 – oh, yeah, that’s underlined, and a host of others.
Read the book of 1 John, and you will find a host of Scriptures that speak straight to the heart of the believer. And why? These are words to the Beloved of God.
We studied this short, but incredible book, to discover who we are in God’s eyes, and what we must do in response.
May 5 “Finally Seeing the Truth” Audio Text
May 12 “Truths for the Beloved” Audio Text
May 19 “The DNA of the Beloved” Audio Text
June 2 “Characteristics of the Beloved” Audio Text
The Disciples’ Journey to Easter
With our personal self-denial and repentance during Lent, we are on a journey towards the Cross and the Resurrection. We do this as we reflect on the events nearly 2,000 years ago.
But there was a group of people at actually walk that path towards that fateful Friday and glorious Sunday. They were the disciples. And though they really didn’t understand what was going on at the time, it was a completely life-changing experience.
We joined the journey with the followers of Jesus during our series “The Disciples’ Journey to Easter.” We examined each of the disciples to discover that Jesus is teaching us through them.
March 10 “Matthew and James the Less” Audio Text
March 17 “Thaddeus, Simon, and Nathaniel” Audio Text
March 24 “The Women Who Followed Jesus – Part 1” Audio Text
March 31 “The Women Who Followed Jesus – Part 2” Audio Text
April 7 “James and John” Audio Text
April 7 “Branches” Lenten Service message Audio Text
April 14 “Philip and Andrew” Audio Text
April 18 “Judas” Audio Text
Growing
I don’t know about you, but I want to grow: grow mentally for myself, relationally with my wife, and spiritually with God. I want to be that child of God for whom is said when I die, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And that takes commitment.
For two weeks, we committed ourselves to the spiritual topic of “Growing.” We spent time getting serious about our spiritual growth as we approached the season of Lent.
February 17 “The Benefits of the Blessed” Audio Text
February 24 “It Starts with Faith, but it doesn’t Stop There” Audio Text
March 9 “While There is Still Time” Audio Text
Fishin’ with Jesus
We looked at how things change when we go fishin’ with Jesus as Peter, Andrews, James and John did in Luke 5.
February 10 “Fishin’ with Jesus” Audio
Becoming God’s New for You
It’s a New Year, and often the New Year helps us think about what changes we want to see in our lives, our habits, our hobbies, and our future. The New Year helps us focus on what’s more important than what we have allowed to rule our life in the past.
God has a new you in mind. That’s right. God has a new you in mind, a you that looks more and more like His Son Jesus. And we know how much God loves the Son.
As we began 2019, we focused our message series on this: Becoming God’s New for You.
January 6 “What to Get Rid Of” Audio Text
January 27 “What to Take On” Audio Text
February 3 “Essentials of Becoming God’s New for You” Audio Text