FirstChurch Message of the Week

Do we realize that we have been chosen by God? But what have we been chosen to do? Volunteer at a feeding center. Call that person you haven't seen in church in a while. Ask the church, what do they need and how could you help? Show extra kindness to the checkout person or the person next door. Pray for God to lead you toward fruit, fruit that will last. In this week's Message of the week, we are blessed with guest speaker, Bruce Blumer. Bruce shares about his ministry in Haiti called Haiti Alive. He also challenges us to step out when we see a need and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to be the light the world needs.

Sometimes it's hard to know where God is calling us or where God is even present in our lives. Do we miss God working right in front of our eyes? Do we rest in God's presence or do we choose to grind our way through the busy parts of our lives and subconsciously ignore the work of the holy spirit in our lives?In this week's Message of the week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Isaiah 40 and challenges us to pay attention.

How do you explain dinosaurs or the theory of evolution? Is astrology Anti-Christ? How can we hold creation and science in tension – can we believe in both? Hopefully, thoughts like this keep us curious enough to keep asking questions, and to find peace in the fact that God alone knows all things. In this week's Message of the week, we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from Acts 17. She will tackle the topic of science vs. faith and dive into how they don't conflict as much as you might think.

How do you know when God is at work and doing something in your life? When you look back, do you recognize what God has done in the past; for you and for humanity? How about trusting that God will do good things in and through you in the future?In this week's Message of the week, we hear from Pastor Bryce Blank who shares from Ezekiel 36 and reminds us that despite our hardened hearts, God is working and moving in us and through us every day.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good people experience bad things? Why is there suffering in the world at all – can't God just take care of it?    In this week's Message of the week, we continue our worship series titled, "Living Our Questions." We've all asked the question, "Why does God let bad things happen?" This week, we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from the 13th Psalm. This scripture gives us a foundation of faith even when we ask questions like this.

Often God of the Old Testament and New Testament are described quite differently. For example: God in the Old Testament is described as vengeful, versus the New Testament God who is more loving. How do we reconcile this and understand that this is the same God when they are so often described and understood differently?   In this week's Message of the week, we begin a worship series titled, "Living Our Questions." We will be hearing sermons answering some hard questions we may not normally ask others. This week, we hear from Pastor Bryce Blank who shares from Romans 5 and sheds some light on the question: "Is this really the same God?"

The Magi followed the star to Jesus, even if they hit a temporary dead end with King Herrod. Just as the stars guided the magi to Jesus, other stars guide us to Jesus. What “stars words” might help us as we seek Jesus in a new year? In this week's Message of the week, we hear the story of the magi from Matthew chapter 2. We celebrate the upcoming new year with a light that can only come from the lord. Pastor Bryce Blank asks, "What "star words" will make an impact on you this upcoming year?"

It is the simple people who are the first to get to see this newborn king: Shepherds. Most people, even in town there in Bethlehem, had no idea the world was being changed by the birth of this child. We honor the glory and humility of the incarnation when our celebrations are easy, simple, and include the “least of these” and outcasts. In this week's Message of the week, we continue our worship series titled "A Simple Christmas" with a message from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Luke 2 and highlights the simple celebration that took place at the birth of Jesus.

In the story of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus, the innkeeper remains unnamed, even though we so often focus on the detail of how there was no room for them in the Inn. Yet there is generosity in this unnamed character. After all, they went out of their way to find some room for them – this unnamed character surely didn't have a home big enough for several extra families to also stay with them. This was an act of generosity and kindness.Where are we living into generosity and kindness like this? Hopefully we give in response to God's great gift to us in Jesus. Together, let us reflect: Where are we making space for God in our lives? What are simple ways we can make room for those in need by sharing what we have?In this week's Message of the week, we hear about generosity. Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Luke 2, the story of Mary and Joseph's travel and lodging. They were unable to find room, but because of the generosity of the innkeeper, they found a place for our Savior to be born. How can we be generous in the same way, and what does a life of generosity look like?

Being together with beloved people we can trust and find rest in is THE most important thing when we have good news (or difficult news, for that matter). That was certainly true here, where Elizabeth and Mary spent 3 months together before the birth of their sons – 3 months of GREAT JOY in being together.As we prepare for Christmas, might we too get “wrapped up” in the joy of being together to support and encourage one another – and might that joy be not of this world, but based in the love and joy we share in the Good News of the coming Christ.This week's Message of the Week comes from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Luke 1 and reminds us to live “Simply Together.”

In this season of preparing for the coming of the Christ Child, we are reminded of the importance of generations of preparation before us. In this story we are reminded of the ways others – not just Mary and Joseph and their family – also prepared in ways they perhaps didn't fully understand. What might we need to do – or stop doing as we make time to listen – in order to prepare and make space for the miracles of this season of our lives?This weekend we begin our advent series titled "A Simple Christmas." Today we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from Luke 1. She shares the "Preparation" that took place prior to the birth of Jesus with the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and what that preparation looked like.

God has already given us all we need… are we ready to step up? We might feel like we aren't worthy to proclaim the good news because of our history, or status.Together, we will explore ways God uses “ordinary” — faithful — people, and some of the many gifts God has given us.   In this weeks Message of the Week, we are blessed to be lead by our FirstChurch Youth. Alayna Nelson shares from John 13 the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. She reminds us of the joy that comes from a life of service.

How do we use, let alone recognize the abundant gifts God has given us? All that we acquire comes from God. Our management of these gifts is an important part of stewardship. It matters what we do with our time, talents, and finances.   In this weeks Message of the Week, we encounter the question; how do we give of ourselves fully? We hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from Mark 10, and highlights that the first will become last, and the last will become first.

Evangelism is a fundamental part of who we are. The first step to inviting others to know Jesus better, is to seek to set an example to all we meet through our own words, actions, and interactions.   In this weeks Message of the Week, we recognize all the saints that have gone before us. What does their example of a life of witness show us today? Pastor Bryce Blank shares from 1 Peter and challenges us to live a life of witness.

How important is church, really? Is it that necessary to connect with others believers? Old Testament and New Testament authors would stress that it is. In our church culture today, how do we connect with God AND each other? Is there more than one way to be present in our church community?    In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Ecclesiastes 4 and reminds us that together is better than apart; unified is better than divided. What does it look like to prioritize our presence in the body of Christ?

Prayer is an essential part of our lives and connection to God. How and why does it matter? What does it mean for us to commit to supporting the church with our prayers, and why is that so important? We might ask ourselves, does God really answer prayer? How do we know that God is listening?    In this weeks Message of the Week, we begin our stewardship worship series titled "Membership to Discipleship: Our Greater Mission." We start this series with a message from Pastor Bryce Blank. He shares from Romans 8 and focuses on how we can grab hold of the Power of Prayer.

We are called to recognize our God for all that we have been given. We are called to praise God. Praise is often thought of in accompaniment with music in the context of worship. Why is that? How has our praise evolved over the years? What does it mean to praise God? How can we do so in other ways?   In this weeks Message of the Week, we wrap up our Back to the Basics worship series with a message from Director of Worship & Discipleship, Lucas Severson. He shares from Psalm 150 and leads us in an investigation into what "praise" means and challenges us to praise God when something feels deserved AND when our relational foundation with God is all we have.

How are we connected? One of John Wesley's main focuses was that we remain connected; to God, to those around us, and to our world. This means working with our brothers and sisters in Christ to discern God's work and then act in ministry to/with our world. Connection points to Methodism's origins by referring to the relationships that exist between preachers, people, and God. This practice of joining together for God's work is one that even the Apostle Paul knew to be very important.   In this weeks Message of the Week, our Back to the Basics series brings us to the topic of Connection. How do we stay connected to God? To our family and friends? To our church community? Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Philippians 1, and gives us some tangible ways to connect in every aspect of our lives.

Prayer seems like it should be so simple. Yet when it comes to actually praying it often feels awkward and complicated. What should you actually pray about? What do you say? Is there anything you shouldn't say? Do you have to speak out loud? Where do you even start? Who even has time to pray? The truth is, prayer is simple. It's like talking with a good friend. And here's the best part: No matter where we are in life, God can't wait to talk with us.  In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Back to the Basics worship series. We hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from John 15. Pastor Jen recites prayers we've all prayed in the past, and challenges us to pray from our hearts because when we call, God answers the phone.

Our Bible is often very confusing to read. How do we read it? What is the difference between the various translations and why are they important? Understanding how to read scripture will allow the Word of God to speak to our lives.  In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our fall sermon series, Back to the Basics where we revisit the basics of faith. This week we hear from Pastor Bryce Blank who shares from Romans 15 and highlights the Hope found in scripture.

We are a people following after Christ. However, that is not always easy. We are called to support one another through the various seasons of life and the challenges that come our way. We are also called to lean into God.  In this weeks Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from the second half of the book of Jude. He reminds us that we can't do life without a firm foundation. He challenges us to find a support system so we don't have to do it alone.

As we step into this new fall season, with school and activities back into full swing, we are called to remain focused and faithful to God. In times of transition, it can be hard to look to God. How are we preparing to continue growing closer to God? What are we doing to live like Jesus? We are to live in the reality of who Jesus really is and who God is calling us to be. In this weeks Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Jude 1, and reminds us that transitions can be stressful, but challenges us to remain focused on a faithful God.

Throughout history, God has called people to follow Him. They followed as He led them out of captivity into a new land. That call continues today with a commandment to love others as Jesus loved. This call to service is not a solo mission. It is a call to band together and change the world. In this weeks Message of the Week, our Lost worship series continues with a sermon from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Hebrews 13 and highlights the call for all people to outwardly show the love of God to all.

We make decisions every day. What to eat. How to dress. How many hours we spend scrolling social media. We make millions of tiny decisions every day. Many of them are acceptable, but how many are truly beneficial to our faith journey. You might ask, “how do I identify the essentials of life? How do I separate the temporary from the eternal? In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Lost worship series with a message from Pastor Jen Tyler. She shares from Hebrews 12, and challenges us to discern which things in life are worth pursuing for the sake of eternity. What things can we cling to so we are "Unshaken?"

God has called us to grow in faithfulness, turn from greed and selfishness, and grow in our service and witness to proclaim His mercy and peace. The law and prophets are an example of a path that has been laid out for us to follow. Their witness and example spur us onward. With that knowledge all we need to be is BOLD. Easy, right? In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Lost worship series with a message from our summer intern, Alayna Nelson. She shares from Hebrews and reminds us of those who came before us, and challenges us to look at the path they set before us and be bold in our journey of faith.

Often, parting words serve the function of offering the highest points and ideals we wish to relay to others. Either in summary or by means of a larger conclusion, often the very best and most important parts of a message come as a part of our final instructions. The end of the book of Hebrews works to summarize the most important aspects, not only of the book itself, but of a life of faith. These exhortations, warnings, and guidelines are a helpful overview of the traits of a faithful Christian, and they also serve as an opportunity for self-reflection. In this weeks Message of the Week, we begin a worship series focusing on scripture guiding us to our true home. We are sometimes lost, confused, or even on the wrong path without knowing. Our sermon today highlights the Hebrew people and how God led them home.

We've all heard metaphor in scripture, but do we use our imagination like the authors of the Bible did? Some scripture even demands understanding of metaphor: God as a fortress, as Rock, as a bird sheltering its chicks in a storm, and even as light. Being a good Bible reader can sometimes require a creative imagination. In this weeks Message of the Week, Rev. Dr. Joel Allen challenges us to use our imagination. He directs us to many places in scripture that use creative and imaginative words to describe God, His word, and His work in the world. 

St. Paul's Mental Health Manual deals with the ways that Paul, from prison, clearly writes with a concern for mental health, when he says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, whatever is of good report, think on these things.” With our recent concerns for anxiety and depression, these verses can be viewed in a new light. In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear another message from Rev. Dr. Joel Allen. He shares from the 4th chapter of Philippians, reminds us of Paul's time in prison, and challenges us to think on things that are true, good, and come from God.

The Mystery of the Incarnation focuses on the implications of the notion that God enter into the human experience in the person of Jesus, laying aside the glories of heaven and dwelling in a fallen and failing world. Often, Christians fail to see the beauty of it. We've heard our whole lives that Jesus is God-with-Us, but we don't see what makes that belief so beautiful and transformative. In this weeks Message of the Week, we hear from guest speaker Rev. Dr. Joel Allen. He shares from Philippians 2 and reminds us of the implications of God incarnate. God in the flesh. "God In a Bod."

Christ calls us to rediscover the love for God we may have once had. How can we find ways to rediscover this love and keep it strong and healthy? Do you love God as you first did? What checkpoints do you have to keep your love for God strong? In this weeks Message of the Week, we wrap-up our Trajectory worship series with a message from Pastor Bryce Blank. He shares from Revelation 2 and challenges us with the same challenge the Ephesian church received: to recall the love we once had for God who first loved us.

By putting on the armor of God, we have the ability to resist temptations and can therefore do Christ's work in the world. Being a Christian doesn't mean we will live an easy life or that we will always see Christ as our compass. So we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead by learning and knowing the truth of Christ, striving for righteousness, proclaiming the gospel, and having a strong prayer life. How are we preparing ourselves for the challenges of living a life after Christ? In this weeks Message of the Week, we continue our Trajectory worship series with a sermon from guest speaker and FirstChurch intern Alayna Nelson. She shares from Ephesians 6 and reminds us to put on the Armor of God in our daily battles.

Healthy relationships come from a healthy trust in God. Sometimes it may be easy to think that everything will fall apart or that the people we turn to can't really be trusted. The church is a new society that can flourish when we put our trust in God and treat others as Christ intended. Do our relationships reflect the faith and trust we have in God? In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank continues our Trajectory Worship series with a sermon from Ephesians 5, and highlights where our trust comes from, and challenges us to trust God with the big things as well as the little things.

The church is more than a fellowship…it's a new society. Having a relationship with Jesus, knowing the love of God, and being empowered by the Spirit are essential for any sort of new society that is built after a former, divisive society has been torn down. People in the church are going to need to give grace and show love to one another just as much as they need to receive it. This is a key part of unity.  Today we continue our Trajectory worship series with a message from guest speaker, Rev. Eric Van Meter. He shares a sermon highlighting The New Society created from the ground up by the early followers of Christ, and challenges us to unite with those around us in the love of Christ.

We are saved by grace through faith. We are sick because of sin, unable to cure the disease ourselves, and in need of the grace of God. We are bound together by the simple truth that God is the only one able to cure our sin. In this week's Message of the Week, we continue our Trajectory worship series. Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Ephesians 2 and reminds us that God calls us to perseverance in the midst of sin. Pastor Bryce also challenges us to reach out to the lifeline that is the Grace of God that fills us with hope for the future.

God loved us before time began, shown through His Son Jesus Christ. As the body of Christ, the church, we dwell in the love of Jesus which compels us to live in the ways of Godly love. How do we respond to God's love to us shown in Christ? In this week's Message of the Week, we continue our Trajectory worship series. Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Ephesians 1:15-23 and challenges us to respond to the love of God highlighted in this passage. We, the church, dwell in that love. How do we use and display it?

As we seek to learn from the Ephesian church found in Acts, we see that they are a community founded in Christ and Christ alone despite the pull towards other idols of their day. What idols ingrained in our identity do we need to give up? In this week's Message of the Week, we begin a Worship Series titled, Trajectory: From Our Origin to Us. With every origin there must be a Foundation. Today, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from the 19th chapter of the book of Acts and gives us a glimpse of the Foundation that sparked the first followers of Jesus to act.

Jesus has finished his ministry and what he set out to do. He recognizes that his work is not of his own doing but of God's. How can we offer ourselves and our work to the glory of God? In this week's Message of the Week, we hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares from John 17 and gives us a challenge to unite with others in the glory and the joy of the Lord!

Jesus assures his disciples that he will be with them always, and as we prepare to send off our graduates, we want to invite them to know, part of us will always be with them, just as they are leaving part of who they are with us. This is an invitation, then, to consider what it looks like to lean into who we are, whose we are, and how we are called to lean into that identity in every stage/phase of our lives. Let us continue to grow in these ways as we heed Jesus' invitation to love God, to keep God's commandments… and to trust in the Spirit of truth that is with us always. In this week's Message of the Week, we celebrate achievements. We honor all graduates in our community, and remember how God has led us, with His light, to do great things for His glory!

Jesus comes to be baptized by John the Baptist. As we celebrate our confirmands and their choice to publicly affirm their faith, how are we accepting and living into our identity as children of God? In this week's Message of the Week, we celebrate with our Confirmation students and their families! We hear a message from Pastor Bryce Blank who shares from Matthew chapter 3. Pastor Bryce asks us to remember our baptism, and challenges us to choose to share the healing and reconciliation that comes from baptism with all those we meet.

As we reflect on Thomas and the way his “doubts” reflect our own questions and desires, we are reminded of the gift of believing, without seeing. Today, we celebrate God's unending invitation to offer our whole selves to God as we live into hope in the Risen One – who offers us assurance of a life and faith in him that can overcome all things – even death. In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Jen Tyler shares from John chapter 20 and challenges us to "Put Our Whole Selves In."

We are a few weeks past Easter. Perhaps the joy of Easter is waning a bit. Have we already lost the joy that comes from the saving grace of a Risen Savior? How do we live into the joy of Christ? How do we continue to bear witness to the empty tomb?In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Acts 2, and reminds us to embrace "The Habit of Easter Joy."

Have you ever had a meaningful experience at a summer camp? What impacted you the most? Perhaps it was someone welcoming you and calling you by name. The name we are given by our parents is one of the things in life that we didn't get any control over. However, our names do have, and can give us, meaning. As children of God, we bear the name above any other name. What will you do with it?In this week's Message of the Week, we hear from guest speaker Christy Heflin, Director of Lake Poinsett United Methodist Camp, who shares a message about finding our identity in Christ.

For several weeks leading up to this day, we've been talking about how important it is to let go of the busy-ness of our lives, and to find ways to connect with our Unhurried God. As good as slowing down is, there are other times that we should run! Just as Jesus returned to Mary and offered her comfort and Good News before sending her back out to share his Good News, so too, is Jesus calling us to go.In this week's Message of the Week, we celebrate the Risen King! We hear from Pastor Jen Tyler who shares the Resurrection story from John chapter 20. Christ is Risen!

The commandment to keep the sabbath is one that might not seem as important as the one about not murdering. But what, and who, suffers in our society when we value economic security over well-being? As we give witness yet again to the story of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, proclaiming justice for the oppressed, we must also proclaim justice and peace... and rest... for the weary of this world. In this week's Message of the Week, we hear about the triumphal entrance of Jesus. Do we stop long enough to notice? Guest speaker Rev. Melissa Gall shares from the book of Mark and challenges us to "Give It a Rest."

For many of us in this modern, industrial, tech-savvy world, we have lost touch with the seasonality of life. We want what we want, when we want it. We come to believe that no time is off limits and the lines between busy and rest, work and play, have become increasingly blurred. How far are we from the rhythms and "pleasure of our toil?" What cost to ourselves, to our relationships, and to our planet is this frantic pace? In this week's Message of the Week, we encounter God. But what about tomorrow; or yesterday? Pastor Bryce Blank shares a message highlighting the journey of life, and reads from Ecclesiastes 3 focusing on God's timing in our lives.

No one, at the end of their life, would say, "I should have spent more time at the office." And yet many of us live with the tyranny of measuring-up that keeps us weighed down. Lightening the load of expectations and "shoulds" is one way to lighten up as well as to literally lighten the clutter that crowds out our serenity. How do we create space to flourish in the ways God intends? In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Jen Tyler shares, from Luke 12, a message about removing the junk in our lives; the extra, the clutter. Pastor Jen challenges to live a little bit "lighter."

Martha was busy. Mary chose to be still, to tune in to Jesus. The lesson here is not that it is bad to work, but that we also need times of connection to God. Tuning in to the holy may mean just taking time to notice things that are beckoning to dwell with us a while. What contemplative practices can feed and nourish our active lives? In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank shares from Luke 10 and helps us see what a “tuned in” life looks like.

The Twenty-third Psalm is a great comfort to us as we imagine the green pastures and still waters. It also recalls the dark valleys and calls us into the not-so-easy practice of sitting down at the table with our enemies. An unhurried God is present with us in the good times and in the difficult time and invites us to be radically present to each other in the same way. Have we been too busy to be really present to one another? In this week's Message of the Week, we relax as Pastor Jen Tyler shares the 23rd Psalm and challenges us to bask in the glory of God and be present wherever we find ourselves.

Jesus never promised that the yoke would literally be "easy." This is a mistranslation. In this context of yoking oxen, the translation means "well fitting." As we begin our "Busy" series, we discover that each of us has a tempo that fits well, that energizes us. What tempo gives you life and energy? In this week's Message of the Week, we begin our "Busy" sermon series with a message from Pastor Jen Tyler who reads from Matthew 11 and challenges us to s l o w d o w n, be still, and let God lead us at His unhurried pace.

Scripture is full of mysterious and strange things that have taken multiple generations to try to understand. How much harder was this for the disciples and other followers to understand. After all, they didn't have the gift of knowing how each story would end to influence their understanding. Yet Jesus challenges what seem like perfectly reasonable reactions. What perfectly reasonable things are we doing – and have we perhaps always done? – that we need to challenge, or throw some unpredictability into? In this week's Message of the Week, Pastor Bryce Blank challenges us to experience the mystery of Jesus and share it, as unknown as it is, in the world around us.

Sometimes we become so focused on moving forward and “getting it done,” that we completely miss opportunities to love, serve, and lead. We miss chances to help those in need, to spur on meaningful change, and protect those who can't protect themselves. Do our neighbors really experience love from us in all circumstances? In this week's Message of the Week, we worship a God who calls us to follow HIM. Pastor Bryce Blank highlights Matthew 4, shares some statistics gathered from the world around us, and challenges us to follow Jesus closely enough that we radiate His love to everyone, even though we may feel unequipped.