Lakeside United Methodist Church

Sermon Title ~ John: Word Made Flesh Scripture ~ John 1:1-5 John's Gospel is quite different from the others, having been written last and by the longest living disciple. After a lifetime of reflection, teaching, and preaching, John has come to realize that Jesus is the God of Israel come in the flesh for all people.

Sermon Title ~Luke: The Upside-Down King Scripture ~Luke 14:16-24 Luke's Gospel contains some of Jesus' most loved teachings, including the parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. Yet, it is these very parables and the way Jesus lived out the themes contained in them that got him killed. When viewed as Luke intended, this is a Gospel about an upside-down kingdom and its king who has no problem challenging the way of the world.

Sermon Title ~ Matthew: The Source Scripture ~ Matthew 17:1-9 Matthew places extra emphasis on Jesus being the fulfillment of the story begun in the Old Testament. He is the faithful teacher and king that Moses and David had ultimately failed to be. Many of his most pivotal moments happen at the tops of mountains, where heaven and earth symbolically overlapped. But Matthew also makes clear that this fulfilled story of God's great rescue is ultimately for everyone.

Series ~ Four Gospels. One Jesus Sermon Title ~ Mark: Identity and Action Scripture ~ Mark 8:27-30 Mark is generally understood to be the earliest of the four Gospel accounts, and it likely served as a sort of “rough draft” or even starting point for Mathew and Luke. Mark focuses in on Jesus in action, presenting a portrait of one who is always on the move. Threaded throughout the book is the question of Jesus' true identity.

Jesus Is Alive and It Makes All the Difference!   What does the Resurrected life look like? What are we called to do? And how are we supposed to do it?  LakesideUMC.net/connect

Through Death to New Life Luke 24:1-5 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 Isaiah 65:17-25 When Jesus rose from the dead, it was more than just a miracle. It was a victory. And because of that victory, Jesus has opened the way through death and into the life God had always intended for us

Sermon Series ~ Through Sermon Title ~Through Waiting Scriptures ~Job 42:1-6, 10-12a Jeremiah 29:10-14 Romans 8:28 (NTFE) Psalm 30:1-5 There are many forms of waiting—from tedious endurance to troubling uncertainty to painful suffering. Sometimes it feels like we are waiting with God and other times we are waiting for God. When we are faithful to look for God's presence and activity, we can join God in working all things together for good.

Series ~ Through Sermon ~ Through Regret Scriptures ~ Genesis 27:18-24, 32:24-28  Luke 15:17-24  1 Timothy 1:12-17  Psalm 73 That thing we did, that season of life, that broken relationship—it may be a thing of the past. But the regret we feel may be the burden we carry today. Is it possible for God to lead us through regret and into peace?

Sermon Title ~Through Good Times Scriptures ~ Deuteronomy 8:6-19, 1Kings 11:1-10, Genesis 41:45b-49, 45:4-9, Psalm 23   We may not feel like we need help getting through the good times of life. But that's exactly the point. It is easy to rely on God in times of need, but how do we stay faithful when we experience God's abundance?

Sermon Title ~ Through Change Scriptures ~ Genesis 12:1-4, Exodus 13:21-22, 14:19-22, Joshua 24:14-15 Major changes in life can be a challenge. Sometimes it is forced upon us, but sometimes we are invited by God into significant change and we face a choice.

Series ~ Through  Sermon ~ Through Chaos Scriptures ~ Genesis 1:1-13, Genesis 7:7-12, Psalm 46   What do we do when it feels like forces that are completely out of our control are causing chaos in the world or in our own life? Is it possible to live with a faith that rejects fear?

Series ~ 3 Simple Rules Scripture ~ Colossians 2:3-7   The final of John Wesley's Three General Rules for Methodists is the simplest of them all, and yet for some of us, it's the easiest to neglect. What makes this such a tragedy is that this rule—stay in love with God—is actually the engine that powers everything else.

SERIES: 3 Simple Rules SERMON: Do Good SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:27-36   Working toward doing no harm is a big and important first step. But it can leave us wondering what, if anything, we are supposed to do. How do I stand for what I believe? Is sitting it out ok? What difference can I really make in a world so big and so broken? These are all a part of the discussion around Wesley's second general rule: do good.

3 Simple Rules For all of the detailed theology that undergirds the Methodist movement, John Wesley understood the importance of living out our faith practically. All of the Bible knowledge in the world doesn't do a lot of good if we don't know how to apply it across our lives and relationships. These simple rules are as vital now to our love of God and neighbor as they were when they were introduced in 1743! Scripture ~ Galatians 5:13-15 As the Methodist movement started to grow, it was no longer possible for John Wesley to personally oversee and guide every group that was meeting. He realized that *how* they did things was as important as *what* they did. And the first rule reflects the truth that we cannot truly do good until we commit to doing no harm.

SERIES ~ Pray This Way SERMON ~ Kingdom, Power, and Glory SCRIPTURE ~ Matthew 28:18-20   As we wrap up our series on the Lord's Prayer, we are faced with a familiar and seemingly simple benediction: yours, God, is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. But as we have found with the entirety of this prayer, it is much easier to say than it is to truly live out.

SERIES ~ Pray This Way SERMON ~ Rescue Us SCRIPTURE ~ Matthew 6:13 Our modern understanding of temptation is that it is an invitation to do wrong. But the words of the prayer in Scripture actually point to the idea of a test that reveals the truth. Jesus' prayer acknowledges that the testing we face is not as simple as picking the best choice in a vacuum but that we need God's help to resist competing messages and follow God's lead.  

Scripture ~ Matthew 6:12   Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity, and yet our understanding of it is often a bit blurry. Forgiveness is simultaneously far simpler and far more complex than we may realize.

Series ~ Matthew 6:10   As we saw last week, praying “Our Father,” has a depth and meaning to it that might have caught us by surprise. The part of the prayer about God's Kingdom coming and God's will being done is no less surprising. In fact, it just might challenge us to rethink everything we think we know about heaven, earth, and the storyline of the Bible itself.

Scripture ~ Matthew 6:11   We have reached the part of the Lord's Prayer where we begin to lift up our requests to God. It comes in the form of a request for daily bread - something so simple and generally plentiful for many of us. But as we have learned by now, the elements of the Lord's Prayer may be simple, but they are packed with meaning.

Series ~ Pray This Way Matthew 6:7-13   Prayer is one of the central disciplines to the Christian faith, and yet many people struggle with it. Perhaps that struggle begins with a central question: to whom are we praying?

Luke 1:26-38   Carrying a child is hard enough, but Mary has even greater challenges heaped upon her—from being pregnant out of wedlock to the pressure of bearing the Son of God. Mary displays incredible resolve when she accepts this calling, but it took more than courage. It took a deep sense of peace, and Advent invites us to experience that same peace in our lives.

Sermon Series ~ Expecting Scripture ~ Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-6   There is more than one way to laugh, and in the story of Sarah, we see her laugh twice. The first laugh is done in hiding with a spirit of disbelief, but her second laugh is one of contagious joy. As we continue through the season of Advent, we can ask ourselves: where are we struggling to wait for God to move in our life, and how might we anticipate the joy that comes when God's promises are fulfilled? https://lakesideumc.net

Luke 1:13-17, 39-45   The headliners of the opening of Luke's Gospel are Mary and Jesus, but Mary's relative Elizabeth giving birth to Jesus' cousin John was no less a gift from God. And in both Elizabeth and John, we see a humble, self-giving love that supported Mary and Jesus. During the season of Advent, we are invited to keep our eyes open for the people in our lives who need our love and support.

John 18:33 We all have lenses through which we see and interpret the world around us. They shape how we understand things, how we respond emotionally, and even what we think is or is not possible. One of the ways we can become aware of the lenses we and others are looking through is to examine the questions we ask.

1 Corinthians 8~ The dinner table is where we come to share about our days, be surrounded by our loved ones, and of course eat. It can also be a place where family tensions linger. As Thanksgiving approaches and we prepare our homes and hearts for time with our families, we'll look to Paul's letter to the church in Corinth for wisdom.

Esther 4:12-17   The story of Esther is, in part, a reminder that we can be stewards of the resources, influence, and opportunities we have been given no matter the circumstance. On this Stewardship Sunday, Pastor Dan and Finance Committee Chair Audrey France-Lanas reflect on practical ways we can all make a difference.

Matthew 25:35-40 When we think about serving impactfully, it is easy to picture the mission trip or the big service project. But the opportunity to serve and make a difference isn't just occasional or out-of-town, but it can be a part of our everyday lives. As we wrap up our Wesley Rooted series, we embrace the opportunity to continue the centuries-old tradition of Wesleyan Methodists making a difference for the Kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17   The vast majority of Christians, United Methodists included, believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But what does that mean, and what does it not mean? And how does that meaning affect the way we engage with Scripture and allow it to guide and shape our lives?

Acts 2:47 As we gather to give thanks to God and celebrate 25 years of ministry, we reflect on the cycle recorded in Acts that demonstrates how churches survive and even thrive. Though there are a million details and challenges to living it out, staying faithful to the calling of all churches can begin to build momentum. The partnership of God's grace and a faithful community can lead to long-standing and fruitful ministry.

Preacher┃Rev. Jeremy Green Scripture┃Luke 15:20-24 As Christians, we are called to love God and neighbor, but who exactly is our neighbor? Our Wesleyan heritage guides us toward casting a wide net and accepting all. As we explore the words of John Wesley and the parables of Jesus, we'll consider how we can be unified in love despite our deeply held differences.

Whether we are talking about the literal roots of plants, the places and people that shape us, or the foundation upon which we have built our lives, roots are vitally important. Roots are the conduit for what sustains us, they are essential to growth, and they are meant to provide stability and strength. Therefore, it is also vitally important that we are rooted and grounded in the right thing.

It can be easy to feel like we should be further along in our faith journey, especially when we read some of the stories in the Bible. We see the bold faith of Peter, the courageous self-sacrifices of Paul, or the calm love of Mary, and we ask why we aren't like them. And it is the subtle twist into comparison that steals away our ability to grow into the disciple God has made and called us to be.

A good bit of anxiety stems from feeling like we aren't getting what we need. And so we get reactive, seeking to meet those needs through our own effort. Essentially, we become like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, giving up our access to God's presence by seeking to grasp things for ourselves.

One of the primary reasons we don't experience the particular love of God is because the voice of God is one among many in our heads and hearts. The stories we tell ourselves and the “committee members” who provide running commentary on our lives do their best to crowd out the only voice that truly matters. We must focus on the One who has the first and final word.

There are four common dynamics that not only stress our relationships, but they often put us in a false reality. When we learn to locate and surface these dynamics, we can begin to dispel the illusion and return to the truth. Jesus promises that, through our faithfulness to him, we can know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: John 5:1-9 Description: It is easy to think that your faith in God is your deepest belief—the one you base your life on. But if you start to pay attention to how your mind and body reacts in various situations, you might discover that your faith in God is your most precious belief, but it is not actually your deepest one. The first step in closing the gap between expectations and experience in your spiritual life is clarifying your relationship with God and yourself.

When Jesus wanted to help his disciples—including us—understand his death, he did not give us a lecture. He gave us a meal. And in this meal, we don't just learn about but we experience the love of God for us.

Baptism is one of the central practices of the church. But there is such a wide range of ideas about why we do it and what actually happens. When we look at the baptism of Jesus and see the connections to the rest of the biblical story, we get a clearer picture of the deep meaning of this act.

Gen Z college students are overwhelmed with social media stress, financial burdens, and mental health crises, all while tackling the usual challenges of young adulthood. How can we, as a church, offer them rest and resilience through Christ's love? Discover how we can make a difference in their lives and lighten their load, just as Jesus promised.

If orientation was a time of peace and abundance, and disorientation disrupts all of that, it would be understandable to assume that reorientation is about putting everything back the way it was. However, while reorientation does pull us out of the depths, it is almost always surprising. It is about receiving the gift of new life God has to offer.

Grief and loss are aspects of the human experience that each of us know all too well. When the most difficult things in life happen, we can find ourselves wishing for yesterday and with little hope for tomorrow. However, we are not alone in this. Our ancestors in faith also had intimate experience with the heavy burdens life has to offer, and were so inspired to write Psalms of disorientation. Pairing their sacred words with Paul McCartney's haunting lyrics, we'll explore where we find God in all this, and how to engage in holy lament.

In a world of disarray, it is easy to point to optimistic perspectives, like the song “What a Wonderful World,” and think: yeah, right… so naive… the world hasn't been that wonderful in a long time! But what if that is part of the point? There was goodness out there, it may still be there if we look for it, and at the very least it offers hope for that goodness to return.

Sermon Title: Time After Time Scripture: Psalm 84: 1-4…10-12 The Psalms are some of the most vulnerably human sacred writings we have. Within them we find deeply expressive poetry about almost every human emotion from joy to crushing sadness. What we learn from studying them is that no matter what we may be experiencing in life, God is always present with us.

Sermon Title: Repent!! (Or: Change Your Mind!) Speaker: Rev. Matthew Kern Scripture: Luke 3:1-9 “Repentance” can be a loaded word, sometimes understood with only being a precursor to a life of faith. But John the Baptist gives us a hint into how our lives as disciples are in fact characterized by this repentance, or, “change of mind.”

Sermon: Until Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: Luke 15:1-10 Description: The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin may be familiar to some of us, but there is one simple word in those stories that is key to understanding God's love for us. It should also serve as a motivator to those of us who are called to share that love in the world.

Sermon: Ask the Pastor (and Friends) Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich, Jeremy Green, Amanda Stallard Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-16a Description: Pastor Dan, Jeremy, and Amanda respond to questions from the congregation!

Sermon Series: Vision Sermon: Beyond the Fulfilled Vision Speaker: Jeremy Green Scripture: Luke 2: 25-38 Description: Scripture tells us that if we stay committed to the vision that God has shown us it will come to pass. What does it look like for us to remain faithful and steadfast in the space between the revelation of the vision and its fulfillment? 

Sermon Series: Vision Sermon: Our Life Together Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: Acts 2: 42-47 Description: Churches should always be outward facing, but community culture matters too. What did it look like then and what does it look like now to be the Church for and with one another? What are the marks of a healthy culture and community?

Sermon Series: Vision Sermon: Between Two Worlds Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1-4 Description: Perhaps the hardest part of the visioning process is not actually coming up with an exciting vision. It is comparatively easy to dream about exciting an impactful things to do. But getting from a world in which we have plans to a world in which the vision is coming to life often requires waiting on God's timing.

Sermon Series: Vision Sermon: Willing, Ready and Listening Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 Description: Throughout Scripture, the "word of the Lord" is regularly tied to "vision." What we read in the Bible and what we hear from God is not simply for our own information or encouragement, but it is meant to come alive and make a tangible difference. What the Church desperately needs to do, especially with emerging generations, is make visible the impact that faithfulness has on our lives and the world around us.

Sermon Series: Vision Sermon: Stop, Start, Continue Speaker: Rev. Dan Wunderlich Scripture: Acts 9: 1-22 Description: We have all experienced the feeling of being stuck. The feeling that something has to change for us to make it to the next level in our professional lives, personal relationships, or faith journeys. Even the Apostle Paul had a moment like this, where everything he thought he knew was challenged by Christ himself. Paul wasn't all bad, but an encounter with the Messiah opened his eye to the things he needed to discard to move forward in relationship with God.