A few years ago, United Methodist Communications adopted this slogan for our denomination: Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors . . . The People Of The United Methodist Church. As part of the marketing rollout, the church produced a series of television commercials like this one that ran in selected markets: As you might expect, the design Read the full article…
Ryan Gordon is our Director of Children’s Ministries, and files this report from his Kids Core Discipleship class offered this past Saturday morning: “I am a new Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ…so now what?” “How do I have a living relationship with Jesus Christ?” Those questions and others like them are exactly why 26 elementary Read the full article…
Some of us have had pet rocks. But not of us have had talking stones. We’ll see what Jesus was talking about in Luke 19:40. And we’ll also see that — as is true of so much else in the bible — context is everything. You can’t understand this verse unless you know what comes Read the full article…
I know a preacher is in trouble whenever he or she says, “Webster’s defines ___________ as __________________.” Why is a dictionary reference a sure-fire sermon killer? Because in preaching you should never define a word with more words. You define a word by painting a picture. Or doing a demonstration. Or performing an experiment. You take Read the full article…
I have lived through seasons of life where Jesus was an occupation. I read the bible only to search for sermon material. I prayed because that’s what preachers are supposed to do. I served so that others in the church could see me serving. Maybe worst of all, when Jesus was little more than occupation in my Read the full article…
