Sermons – Oconee street UMC

When Jesus was tempted by the devil, he could’ve easily given into the temptation. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus was famished. The devil offered him everything, from food to power to glory, and even used words from the Bible to reinforce his point. In the end, Jesus did not give into the temptation. We … Continue reading Sermon: Dangerously Tempting

“Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.” On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, we need to ask ourselves, “What kind of church are we going to be?” “The Servant Church”Sermon by Dr. Robert FosterIsaiah 49:1-7January 19, 2020 ”Ain’t Got Time to Die”Words and music by Hall JohnsonPerformed by the Chancel Choir, directed by JD BurnettSoloist: Amanda Martin

Water plays a major role in God’s relationship with us. Through baptismal waters, we are reborn into God. We are also born into connection with all people of God. We are no longer alone — we are all connected through water — the lifeblood of all beings on earth. Our connection with each other and … Continue reading Sermon: Water Washed and Spirit Born

Mary had everything going against her. She was carrying a child, walking hundreds of miles while pregnant, forced to give birth in a manger … but despite all these difficulties, Mary believed. And Her song echoes down the corridors of time to challenge us to pay attention to what God is really up to in … Continue reading Sermon: “Mary’s Song”

The parable of the rich man is perhaps the most difficult story in the Bible for Christians to accept. Jesus tells a rich man that in order to truly get into heaven, he should give all his possessions to the poor and follow Jesus. Several interpretations of this verse try to avoid the fact that … Continue reading Sermon: Holding on and Letting Go

Through Jeremiah, God was trying to reconnect with his people, who lost touch with God. Through tears of sorrow, God was showing his sincere sadness that people were forgetting about God. They were not heeding God’s call to serve others, to take care of our planet, to put God at the center of all our … Continue reading Sermon: Tears of Sorrow

When Jesus is invited to a banquet by a prominent Pharisee, he is critical of the seating chart and who was invited to the party. Jesus notes the seating is specially designated so prominent guests sit towards the head of the table, and that only the elite — those who could return the favor — … Continue reading Sermon: Take a Seat

The message in Luke 12:49-56 can be difficult for Christians. Jesus tells his followers that following him will cause division among their families and within society. He makes it clear that it will be difficult to live in the world as a follower of God. Jesus is longing for a community of followers who ground … Continue reading Sermon: Wounded World that Cries for Healing

When Jesus teaches us how to pray, he gives us what is now known as The Lord’s Prayer. The prayer emphasizes three things: God is a member of our family. There are three requests we are making — bread, forgiveness and deliverance. We should trust that God will provide. Most Christians are comfortable with the … Continue reading Sermon: Praying for God’s Future

In Luke 10:38-42, Martha expresses frustration that while she is doing all the housework related to hosting a guest, Mary is talking to Jesus. Martha asks Jesus if this bothers him? But rather than empathize with Martha, Jesus says Mary is doing exactly what she needs to be doing by listening. This is pretty groundbreaking … Continue reading Sermon: Finding Balance