Shalom UMC Podcast

Week 3 of series "The Gospel According to Paul" Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 12:1-11 Paul wanted to speak sense into a fractured and dysfunctional church, and help them understand the importance of a shared faith and life with one another. Paul was urging Christians to understand that we are not alone in this life, and we are not alone in our faith. We have the strength of God to carry us forward, we have the community of believers to accompany us in our journey, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us stay rooted in Christ and live as an example of God's grace.

Week 2 of series. Scripture Lesson: Galatians 2:15-21; 5:13-26 In the Letter to the Galatians, Paul sets out to help these Christians understand the depth of God's grace. He wants them to understand how new life, a life of faith, comes through the Holy Spirit and through Christ living within us. Paul then goes on to convey to the churches of Galatia how Christians are called to live because of the knowledge of Christ's love for us that comes through understanding what the Scriptures teach about humanity and our need for grace. Paul was writing to these people to help them understand what it means to be guided by Spirit, not by the Law; he wanted these Christians to know what they are asked to do because of what Christ did for them, and for all sinners.

Week 1 of series "The Gospel According to Paul". Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25 1 Thessalonians is the oldest extant writing from the New Testament – so it gives us a pretty good idea about the concerns of the early church. Paul wrote to the church in Thessaloniki to encourage them to remain steadfast in the face of persecution, and to allow their lives to reflect Christ. Paul's hope for this church is that they would be/remain pure through Christ, and that their holiness would set them apart as followers of Jesus.

Week 7 of "Summer at the Beach" sermon series. Scripture Lesson: Psalm 104 This psalm, and others like it, show us just how far we have strayed from where we should be. The rest of God's creation goes about life doing what they were created to do, and praising God. We humans don't do that - but we could if we took a lesson from the world around us. Look at the rest of creation, experience the world offering praise and thanksgiving to God. Sometimes it is that simple - when we need help remembering to praise God, look to nature - the sea, sky, land, plants, animals, etc. all praise God in their own way, and we can too.

Week 6 of sermon series "Summer at the Beach" Scripture lesson: Mark 4:35-41 This week we take a look at the story of Jesus calming the storm. Our lives are often full of storms, and it is in those times that we either forget about Jesus' presence, or rely on it more than ever. This scripture reminds us that Jesus is always there with us in the midst of troubles and problems in life. And, it helps us to see that the storms we weather can become for other people signs of hope and examples of God's abiding presence in all of our lives.

Week 5 of "Summer at the Beach" sermon series. Scripture Lesson: Exodus 14:10-25 The story of the Israelites crossing through the Red Sea is one of the most recognizable stories in the Bible. But, what have we forgotten or replaced in the story because of our familiarity? How do those differences change our outlook? What can we learn about our lives and our faith when we pay attention to what the Israelites do (or don't do) and what God says and does for them?

Week 4 of "Summer at the Beach" Scripture Lesson: Mark 5:1-20 The story of the man we call the "Gerasene demoniac" is more than we often think it to be, more than just another story of Jesus performing a miracle for someone. This is a story that teaches us about God's love - and how we respond to God's love in our lives.

Week 3 of "Summer at the Beach" sermon series. Scripture Lesson: Matthew 7:21-29 "The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders" is one of the name by which this passage is known. At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us some instructions, warnings, encouragement (all wrapped up in one) about how we are to live once we have heard his words. You can't listen to Jesus and come away unchanged. And, you can't be a true disciple unless you build your life on the solid foundation that is Jesus.

Week 2 of "Summer at the Beach" sermon series. Scripture Lesson: 2 Kings 5:1-19 Naaman's healing by the prophet Elisha gives us a chance to see what God can do through those who follow him. Naaman came to Elisha looking for something miraculous, and he got a miracle. Just not in the way he expected. What do we do with unexpected circumstances or answers to prayer? Do we turn away because it wasn't what we wanted or expected? Or do we take that plunge into the depths of God's grace?

Week 1 of Sermon Series "Summer at the Beach" Scripture Lesson: Mark 1:14-20 This week we began a series looking at passages from the Bible that bring us to the beach (or, at least bring us close to some water). We began with Jesus calling the first disciples. Jesus invited them to follow him, with the promise that he would teach them to fish for people. The question we look for today is: what significance did Jesus place on calling these first disciples to a new life, yet one similar in function to what they already know?

Week 6 of "Obscure" sermon series. This week focuses on the Book of Esther. The story of Esther (and her cousin Mordecai) is a story of standing up for what is right, staring down an uncertain future, and having hope. Mostly Esther's story is one of finding hope when all seems lost.

Week 5 of "Obscure" - This week we look at the Book of Joel, one of the "minor prophets" (minor because the books are short). Joel is unique among the prophets for several reasons - all which make it worth reading and studying. Joel proclaims the "Day of the Lord" and seeks to help the people choose and prepare for a Day of the Lord marked by and mercy.

Week 4 of "Obscure" - this week we take a look at the Book of Hosea, to see how what God has spoken to the people through this prophet. Hosea is a fascinating prophet, whose life and words were used to call the people back to God and to show them the beauty of God's promises.

6/20/21 - Week 3 of "Obscure" - This week we look at Paul's Letter to Titus. Paul sent Titus on a mission to help resolve problems in churches in Crete, and offered him advice for the work he was about to undertake. Paul's advice to Titus centered around allowing God's grace to transform his life so that others would see and know God's goodness and allow themselves to be transformed by God's grace - and become more like Christ.

6/13/21 - Week 2 of "Obscure". Scripture Focus: Lamentations 3:19-33 Lamentations is an often ignored part of the Bible. Yet, it can help us to better understand grief and sorrow, pain and suffering, hope and trust. Lamentations shows us the importance of expressing our emotions, calling upon God to hear us and restore us. While things might not always work according to our plan, we can trust in the fact that God is always faithful and God's steadfast love lasts forever.

6/6/21 - Week 1 of sermon series "Obscure", looking at some lesser known books of the Bible. This week focuses on Paul's Letter to Philemon. In this letter we discover the message Paul worked to share: if you want to be a Christian/follow Jesus, if you say you are a Christian/follow Jesus, then your life needs to be like Jesus' life. Paul was willing to offer himself for Onesimus as his way of showing the power of Jesus' sacrifice for us, and the power of life-changing grace that God offers to us all.

5/30/2021 - Trinity Sunday can be a time of confusion as we struggle to understand the nature of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Or, Trinity Sunday can be a time when we recognize that the transformation our lives can undergo because of the gifts God has given us in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

5/23/21 - On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples. Acts 2 describes how something like a powerful wind and tongues of fire was poured out on the disciples, and how that event was perceived by many others. Pentecost marks a shift from focusing our attention on what Jesus has done for us to understanding that we are called to be disciples of Jesus, offering God's grace and sharing Jesus with all the world.

Week 6 of "Signs of Life" sermon series. Scripture Focus: 1 John 5:9-13 The author of this letter wrote " And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son Jesus." What does it mean for us to see and know this testimony? And how do we offer our testimony about God's truth to others?

Week 5 of "Signs of Life" series. Scripture Lesson: 1 John 5:1-6 Why do we act like it is difficult to truly love others? To set aside selfishness and seek to love as God has first loved us? It all comes down to how we understand the commandment to love one another - and learning that Jesus' commands are not a burden.

Week 4 of "Signs of Life" series. Scripture Lesson: 1 John 4:7-21 Our ability to love others stems from God's love for us. When we come to understand the depth of God's love - seen most clearly in Jesus' sacrifice for us. Loving God and loving others takes courage, accepting the risks of vulnerability - but, like 1 John says, "perfect love casts out fear."

Week 4 of "Open Our Eyes" Scripture Lesson: Matthew 10:40-42 While the life of a follower of Jesus can be a difficult one, Jesus wants us to know that there are always blessings to be found. All we have to do is welcome others, and be welcomed by others, just like God has welcomed us.

Week 3 of "Open Our Eyes" sermon series Scripture Lesson: Matthew 10:24-39 We understand Jesus' instructions for us to "go and preach the good news" - but do we recognize when others are proclaiming the Gospel, helping us to hear God's word?

Week 2 of "Open Our Eyes" sermon series Scripture Lesson: Matthew 9:35-10:8 Jesus said many things in this passage, but do we pay attention to why he said them? Jesus wants to turn our attention to the people around us -the people whom Jesus came to serve. Do we hear his call to see and serve others in his name? Do we listen to Jesus telling us to go and build his kingdom?

Week 1 of "Open Our Eyes" sermon series Scripture Lesson: Matthew 28:16-20 When Jesus appeared before the disciples for the final time they all worshipped him but some doubted, Matthew wrote. Can we do both? Worship and doubt? How does this strange combination play into the instructions Jesus gave them to "Go and make disciples..."?

Week 3 of "A Perfect Love" - Scripture Focus is Deuteronomy 6:1-9.Christian perfection is summarized by one word: love. To be “perfect” (to be complete) in our faith is to love God all the time. It is our response to all that God has done for us. Love is a response to grace, a devotion to God alone.

Week 2 of "A Perfect Love" - Scripture focus is Isaiah 5:1-7.What does it mean to be created by God so that we might flourish? We often fail to live up to the standard by which we were created ("in God's image"), but God’s grace enables us to be who God created us to be. When we remain connected and rooted in God’s love made known to us in Jesus Christ, we can produce good fruit – a reflection of God’s love for everything God has created. 

Week 1 of series "A Perfect Love" - Scripture focus for the week is Matthew 5:43-48.What do you think about when you hear the word “perfect”? What does it mean that Jesus told his followers to “be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). What does it mean to be perfect/ to strive for perfection? How is God’s perfection reflected in our lives? Well, the answer for that is love.

Baptism of the Lord Sunday (1/12/20). Scripture Focus: Matthew 3:13-17. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptizer in the River Jordan, God spoke from heaven and told the people watching that Jesus is, "[God's] Son, the Beloved, with whom [God is] well pleased." God is well pleased with us, too, as we seek to follow Jesus. Our baptisms help us to know and remember God's grace poured out into our lives.

Epiphany Sunday 2020. Scripture focus: Matthew 2:1-12. What do the Magi (kings, wise men, etc.) have to teach us about the birth of Jesus? How do their lives change from coming to worship the newborn king? And how can our lives change when we come to bow before Jesus, the one who was born to save us from our sins?

Sunday after Christmas 2019. Scripture focus: Psalm 98. How does Christmas help us find joy in each day? What help does God give us to find joy and live a life of praise?

Christmas Eve 2019 - What does the story of Christmas tell us of how God works in the world (and our lives)? Why is it important to live like everyday is Christmas? 

Week 4 of "Because of Bethlehem". Scripture focus: John 1:1-18. How do our expectations for a Savior affect how we see Jesus? Do we even know why we wait, or what we are looking for? Christmas isn't just about what happened in a stable in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, it is about who Jesus is and why he came to save us!

Week 3 of Advent series "Because of Bethlehem". Scripture focus: Luke 2:8-16, 25-32 and Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12. What does it mean for us to watch and wait for the birth of Jesus? What can we learn from others who watched, waited, and celebrated his birth? How do our expectations of the birth of Jesus change and prepare us for when Christ will come again?

Week 2 of "Because of Bethlehem" (from 12/8/19) - Scripture focus this week was Luke 1:26-38. We talk about how the birth of Jesus provides us a source of hope in all times of life. We find hope in Jesus' life and ministry, his death, and his resurrection as a sign of God's unfailing and unending love for us and for all of God's children.

Week 1 of Advent Series "Because of Bethlehem" - this series began as an idea from reading Max Lucado's book by the same title. Week one of the series focuses on Matthew 1:18-25 and the importance of the names given to Jesus: "Jesus - he will save his people from their sins" and "Emmanuel - God is With Us". Because God is with us in and through Jesus, we have reason to hope every day, in joy and in sorrow, no matter what.

Week 3 of "Lost and Found" - this week we take a look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).Why do we love this parable so much? Why is it so important in our lives? Because we see ourselves in the story, and we recognize God in it. We turn to this parable because it reminds us that God loves us no matter what, regardless of where we are found.

Week 2 of "Lost and Found" - Luke 15:8-10 - This week we talk about what it means that God searches everywhere for "the lost", and who are "lost". The Good News of this parable is that it doesn't matter who we are or where we are, God still searches for us and celebrates when we decide to let ourselves be found and brought home to God.

Week one of a new series on the parables in Luke 15. Ever wonder how parables are like ogres and onions? Thanks to the movie "Shrek", we know that they all have layers. This week we take a look at Luke 15:1-7, to see the layers of meaning and our call to action in searching for the lost sheep - because we were once lost, but now are found.

(11/3/19) All Saints Sunday, a day to give thanks for the lives of the faithful who have gone on before us, and a day that can help us remember the essentials of faith - seeking to love as Jesus has loved us, using his example and the example of the saints to guide our lives. Who are your saints and why do we look at the lives of other Christians? And what does it mean to be a saint? Listen to find out. Scripture focus: Luke 19:1-10 and Hebrews 12:1-3

9/15/2019 - Week 1 of Sermon Series "Back to Basics" The Bible is a book that Christians claim to read and revere. We call it "holy", we make references to it, we count on it to have answers. But, in reality, the Bible is more complicated than a simple instruction manual or rule book. The Bible is a guide given to us so that we can come to discover the beauty of grace, the necessity of faith, and the importance of everyday actions. We explore these ideas as we also dig into Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:14-17: 'In other words, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”'