United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon PDFs

Human beings have always been drawn to create sanctuaries, which are strikingly different from the space around them, and people have often devoted their greatest effort to those spaces (e.g. Stonehenge, cathedrals, the tabernacle/temple). Sanctuaries remind us that we need to “step aside” from our usual routine to direct our spirits toward God.

The Scripture calls us to “come into God’s presence” (Psalm 100:2).  But is not God always present?  Yes, but people are often preoccupied with other things. So the Scriptures urge us to “come awake” (Matthew, Romans, Ephesians) to God. Worship is a movement of awakening and lifting our heart to God. People may “believe in God,” but faith is never really alive until it is expressed in worship.

In this sermon, Dr. Palmer discusses seeking to bring one’s personal life, and one’s society, into harmony with the will of God.

The opening petition of the Lord’s Prayer directs us to focus upon God, recognizing God’s love, power, and goodness, and giving honor and glory to God.

Jesus, in teaching about prayer, draws his hearers from thinking about how they look to directing themselves truly to God. Genuine prayer involves doing what Mary did – sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to what he was saying. This also means avoiding what Martha was doing – getting distracted by well-intentioned busyness!

Prayer as the practice of ongoing communion with God; prayer is not an emergency appeal to God but a receptive connection with God. Such prayer involves intentional focus; we need to “do things that draw us closer to God” (one of the Methodist General Rules).

Faith in Christ involves not just feeling or sentiment but action – doing things that draw us closer to God, and engaging in ministries of outreach to others. We commit ourselves not simply to believe in God but to actively follow Christ.

In times of loss, we can find much in the Bible with which to identify, as many central Biblical stories are stories of severe loss, including a sense of the loss of God. Such loss comes to its climax on the cross. But in the depths God is at work, to open up a glorious future, as evidenced most of all in the Easter story.

The crowd is always wrong, thronging to the leader who promises quick fixes, big earthly rewards, and glory. The crowd turned from Jesus because he proclaimed instead a challenging message. But we are called to hear that message, break from the crowd, and follow as Jesus’ disciples.

Lamentations says “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in heaven.”  (Lam. 3:40-41) These words were written when the people of Judah were in desperate circumstances, which had resulted from their own sin. Lamentations would guide us out of the depths into genuine repentance, in which we do far more than simply go through the “spiritual motions,” but authentically lift our hearts in faith to God.

St. Paddy’s Day is often a frivolous “holiday” or just an ode to all things Irish. But the real life of St. Patrick is an inspiring example of trusting in Christ and following His call to serve those who are far beyond our own circle.

The creation story says that we are all created in God’s image and that what God creates is good. It also indicates that “it is not good to be alone” and that we are created for one another. This can relate both to marriage and to the church community.

This episode examines the call to Philip to evangelize and baptize an Ethiopian eunuch, a sexually altered foreigner.

A discussion of the apparent condemnation of homosexual practice in Leviticus, and how the central issue in the Leviticus laws is actually resisting the idolatry of the surrounding culture.

The real sin of Sodom and Gomorrah according to the Scriptures – Ezekiel 16:49 “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”

This sermon introduces the United Methodist debate on homosexuality and the need to rightly understand the Scripture. It also focuses on the Biblical call for respectful dialogue and spiritual unity.

The wise men rightly perceive what – and who – is worthy of our utmost allegiance, not the tyrants of this world, but the One who embodies the grace of God.

God’s Kingdom is near when believers are “salt” and “light” for the world.

We must stay alert to God, ready for the Lord to be at work in and through our lives.

We must stay alert to God, ready for the Lord to be at work in and through our lives.

What does it mean to be pursued by God's love?

God gives His grace in abundance.

God nourishes us with grace and help, even in the face of distress and trouble.

We find comfort in the presence, care, and guidance of God; but this is not just so we can be comfortable, but so that we can be instruments of comfort for others.

When we know God is with us, no matter what the threat, we need not fear.

We can trust God to lead us down the right paths.

God brings us to true peace and satisfaction.

God provides for our deepest needs.

God is a shepherd—one who protects and guides his people.

Christ – “the Word of God that enlightens every person” – is the source of the truths about God that appear across all religions. That truth comes to its ultimate and clear revelation in Jesus Christ. Thus we are inspired not only to believe, but to believe in Jesus Christ.

What we believe makes a critical difference, for our lives and for the world.

Faith is far more than an intellectual conclusion that God exists. It is a decision to trust in God, even as we cannot see clearly and may yet feel doubts.

God must be in some sense veiled from view for human beings to have freedom. Is this why there can be no overwhelming, unavoidable “proof” of God?

We know who God is because God has revealed God’s self through His Word.

There is a “universal moral law” – a shared human concept of the good, which has its necessary origin in God, the source of all goodness.

We can know the reality of God through the inward experience of God’s Spirit.

All of creation bears witness to the reality of God as the Master Artist.

God is the necessary origin of all things in the universe. Is that pure faith, or is there support for that?

The Ontological Argument—God is not a proposition to be proved but a reality to be encountered. But there are many elements in the world which point to the reality of God – beginning with the very idea of God that is implanted in the human mind.

Where does belief come from? Belief arises out of a fundamental awareness of the Reality of God.

What is in store in humanity’s future?  God has a marvelous plan!

To what are you devoting your life?  Is it worth spending your life for?  Jesus leads us to find “the pearl of great price” – the prize worth more than all else.

How will new generations come to faith? The Scriptures mark out a clear plan.

The ancient Greeks said, “Know thyself.” We sense that knowing our true identity is a key to life. But how do we do that? The Bible points the way.

Is there hope for planet earth? Are we just adrift in the universe, or does God have a plan for all creation? The Scriptures bring a stunning message of hope for the world.

Does life have a purpose? What is your highest goal in life? The Bible gives us a vision for our destiny.

The Bible says that you are “predestined.” Does that mean that God has determined your future? Or is there a destiny offered that you choose to fulfill? This is the beginning of a sermon series entitled “Fulfill Your Destiny – Entering the Future God Intends.”

The entire story of Jesus’ public ministry – from the first call of the disciples to Jesus’ resurrection and sending forth of the disciples --- is bracketed by two fishing stories. These signify our calling to become “fishers of people.” When we truly encounter the Risen Christ, we discover God’s call for our own lives.

Jesus once cursed a fig tree. What was that all about? Jesus was actually bringing a very important message to us, and to the world.

Whatever we are dealing with in life, Christ can bring about transformation.