FUMC Tulsa

This sermon explores the importance of worship as preparation for eternal life with God. It emphasizes that our earthly worship reflects and anticipates the continuous praise occurring in heaven. Pastor Andrew discusses the need to prioritize our lives according to God's truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, and how our current worship practices are a reflection of heavenly worship described in Revelation. The sermon also highlights the significance of hymns, particularly "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," in expressing adoration for God's nature beyond just His actions.

Are we ever truly satisfied? This message challenges us to examine our deepest hungers and the endless pursuit of 'more.' It invites us to consider a radical alternative: true satisfaction found in intimacy with God. The story of Moses and his encounter with God at the Tent of Meeting serves as a profound illustration of this intimacy. We're encouraged to see that this deep friendship with the Divine isn't reserved for biblical figures but is available to all of us through Christ.

As we journey through life's transitions, we're reminded of the wisdom found in the story of the Exodus. The Israelites carried Joseph's bones and followed God's pillar of cloud and fire, symbolizing the delicate balance between honoring our past and embracing God's guidance for our future. Like them, we're called to remember our identity in Christ while allowing the Holy Spirit to chart our course. This message challenges us to consider: Are we carrying our spiritual 'bones' – the values and faith that ground us? Are we also open to the Holy Spirit's leading, ready to unfurl our sails and venture where God calls?

As we reflect on the depth of our relationship with Jesus, we're challenged to go beyond surface-level faith. The message emphasizes that Jesus desires full spiritual union with us, achievable only through our willingness to lay everything down for Him. We're encouraged to see Jesus as the answer to all of life's struggles, from addiction to broken relationships. This perspective invites us to examine our own faith journey and ask ourselves: How deep are we willing to go with Jesus? Are we seeking a comfortable faith or one that truly transforms our lives?

In this powerful message, we're reminded that God's love for us is unwavering and all-encompassing, and revolves around Jesus as our Good Shepherd, who relentlessly pursues us no matter how far we've strayed. This imagery, rooted in biblical parables, emphasizes God's unconditional love and His commitment to bringing us back to His fold. We're encouraged to recognize that even in our darkest moments, when we feel unseen or unloved, Jesus sees us and speaks words of love and belonging to us.  It reminds us that in Christ, we have a champion who will never give up on us, offering hope and reassurance to all who are struggling, inviting us to experience His redemption and embrace our identity as His beloved children.

The message beautifully connects our worship to our mission, reminding us that what we practice in church prepares us for sharing God's love in the world. It's a call to make worship our priority, knowing that it's both the source and the ultimate goal of all our service. The story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14 serves as a profound illustration of this truth. Before Peter took that miraculous step onto the waves, he first fixed his eyes on Jesus - a perfect picture of worship. This teaches us that our acts of faith and service must be rooted in a deep, personal encounter with Christ. We're challenged to consider: Are we truly seeing Jesus in our worship, or are we distracted by the storms of life?

On this Palm Sunday, we're reminded of the profound significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The sermon draws our attention to God's persistent love, or 'hesed', which appears 242 times in the Old Testament. This steadfast love is what drove God to establish covenants with His people throughout history, culminating in the new covenant through Jesus Christ. We're challenged to see Jesus not just as a prophet or king but as the fulfillment of all previous covenants - the last Adam, the second Noah, the seed of Abraham, the new Moses, and the heir of David. This perspective invites us to reflect on our own relationship with God and how we respond to His persistent love in our lives.

David's choice to lead with worship, dancing before the Lord with all his might, demonstrates that worship should be at the center of our lives as God's people. It's a call for us to examine our hearts: do we view worship as a chore or as the foundational expression of our relationship with God? As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to seek the freedom that comes when the Spirit of the Lord is present, breaking chains and liberating us from what binds us.

The story of Exodus reveals a God who hears our cries and sees our pain, determined to act on our behalf. Just as He rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God desires to liberate us from our own bondage - whether it's addiction, grief, or habitual sin. We're challenged to recognize that God always fulfills His promises, even when circumstances seem dire. The covenant established with Abraham extends to us today through Christ, inviting us into a treasured relationship with our Creator. As we navigate life's struggles, we're encouraged to cultivate our ability to hear God's voice through His Word, fellow believers, circumstances, and the Holy Spirit's promptings.

The story of Joseph, often overshadowed by his colorful coat, takes center stage as we explore how he embodies the anti-Adam - a man who chose to do right despite overwhelming challenges. Joseph's life serves as a testament to the power of 'chastity of heart' - not just sexual purity, but a deep devotion to God's purpose. His journey from the pit to the palace demonstrates how our lowest points can become the beginning of God's greatest work in our lives. As we reflect on Joseph's story, we're challenged to consider our own commitment to doing right in a world that often punishes good deeds. Are we willing to be light bearers in an increasingly dark world?

This week's message continued our series on covenant, focusing on God's covenant with Abraham and its implications for our understanding of redemption. Pastor Andrew explored how God's covenant is about God creating a family and that the church is meant to be that family for us today.

The message draws a fascinating parallel between our spiritual journey and the Exodus story, particularly focusing on the Israelites trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. This biblical narrative serves as a metaphor for our own lives, where we're caught between our desire for freedom in Christ and the temptation to return to familiar patterns of sin. We're encouraged to 'see the salvation of the Lord' and trust in God's deliverance, even when it seems impossible. It's a call to surrender, to trust, and to embrace the transformative power of Christ in our lives.

In this powerful exploration of sin and redemption, we delve into the story of Noah and the flood from Genesis 6-9. We're reminded that sin is not just a series of transgressions, but a deep-rooted spiritual sickness that clings to our hearts. Yet, even in the face of widespread wickedness, God's love for humanity shines through. The flood narrative isn't just about destruction, but about God's desire to redeem and renew His creation.

In this powerful exploration of sin and redemption, we delve into the story of Noah and the flood from Genesis 6-9. We're reminded that sin is not just a series of transgressions, but a deep-rooted spiritual sickness that clings to our hearts. Yet, even in the face of widespread wickedness, God's love for humanity shines through. The flood narrative isn't just about destruction, but about God's desire to redeem and renew His creation.

The message explored the profound human longing for love, particularly the perfect love we were meant to experience in Eden. Through the story of Cain and Abel, we examined how sin has affected our ability to love and be loved, leaving us with "clenched fists" that prevent us from truly connecting with others and with God. The message emphasized God's redemptive plan to rescue us from our fallen state and bring us back into His covenant family.

God loves us so much that he wants to wipe away the mark of Cain. He wants to heal us from being restless wanderers, and he wants to bring us back into his covenant home. In this message, Pastor Andrew explores the profound human longing for love, particularly the perfect love we were meant to experience in Eden.

This message explores the concept of God's original intent for creation, emphasizing the harmony and balance established in Genesis. It contrasts this perfect state with the current fallen world, highlighting humanity's innate desire for harmony. The sermon traces the story from creation through the fall, and ultimately to God's plan for redemption through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the covenantal nature of God's relationship with humanity and the need for genuine repentance to restore our relationship with God.

God does not want us to be estranged from the promises of his covenant. He actually wants us back. And he is determined to do everything that he has to do in order to get us back. In this message, Pastor Andrew explores the covenantal nature of God's relationship with humanity and the need for genuine repentance to restore our relationship with God.