Podcasts about magrey devega

Mary and Elizabeth were the original collaborators, co-laboring to provide the world with the hope and promise that it needed. In drawing near to each other, they discovered mutual support and joy, and the strength to encourage each other throughout their journeys. In a season where our relationships with those closest to us might be most tested and strained, we are called to practice vulnerability, mutuality, and shared love.  Reflection Questions:1. What would it mean for you to be a “Tabernacle” for God? 2. What would it mean for you to be a “Doula” for God?3. How will you prepare for the fresh arrival of Jesus in and through your life?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho reflect on Mary's role in the Christmas story by placing it within the much longer arc of Israel's history—from tabernacle and temple to incarnation and church. They explore how Luke connects past, present, and future to show a God who is both mobile and faithful, present in the wilderness and rooted in real history. As Christmas Eve approaches, the conversation invites us to notice where God is already near, and how we might carry that presence into the lives of others.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

No journey to Christmas would be complete without John the Baptist, the iconic figurehead of Advent preparation. His message is one that people then and now are reluctant to hear: Repent, seek justice, and live righteously. His is a timeless truth that is as relevant as ever.  Reflection Questions:1. How often do you watch the sunrise? What feelings does it elicit for you? 2. What are you most longing for right now? 3. What difference does it make to see time less linearly, and more cyclically?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The draw near theme encompasses 1) an affirmation that God has drawn near to us by taking on flesh and experiencing what it is to be human, 2) a plea for God to draw closer to us and to the spaces in the world that are broken, and 3) a charge for us to draw near to God by leaning into wonder, justice, truth, and one another. Reflection Questions:1. What does it mean for you to call Jesus Lord and King?2. How will you savor each present moment in the coming days? 3. How will you prepare yourself spiritually for the coming Advent season? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This iconic text from Paul on giving reminds us that our truest and most faithful generosity does not happen through rote obligation, but through a spirit of joy and gratitude.Reflection Questions:1. When have you been misunderstood, the way the Corinthians misunderstood Paul? 2. How can you shift your thinking to see every person in the church as equally important? 3. How might you see your estimate of giving as planting a seed for impact in 2026 and beyond? Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Our simple acts of generosity are part of a continuum of God's reciprocal work of grace. God blesses us, then blesses others through us, and then we are blessed in return, which enables us to give thanks to God. It is a true full circle of grace.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In the final week of Christ at the Center, Pastor Magrey deVega revisits a wild Sunday when Hyde Park was protested by Westboro Baptist Church—for being “too open-minded.” But instead of responding with hate, the church chose love, gentleness, and respect—the way 1 Peter calls us to. Discover how real faith holds conviction without closing hearts, and how open-mindedness—rooted in Jesus—can become one of the most powerful witnesses we have today.Reflection Questions:1. What positions in the Social Principles are instructive and persuasive for you?2. How will you work toward bridging polarizing differences with others?3. How will you work toward peace and justice in the world?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if faith and politics can coexist without partisanship? When the Pharisees asked Jesus about religion and empire, He responded, "Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and to God the things that belong to God." His answer offers key principles on how followers of Jesus can engage in politics while staying true to their faith.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if the balance between extremes leads to growth? The via media, or “way through the center,” is a key part of Wesleyan belief, guiding us to take the best of both extremes and create a dynamic, living center.Reflection Questions:1. In what ways are you concerned about polarization today?2. What value do you find in the via media, the way of the center?3. How might you practice listening and empathy with those who disagree with you?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

There is a hidden treasure within each of us, which is the image of God with which we have been created. Our work is to participate in God's transformation, in which we reveal the fullness of Jesus to others. Reflection Questions:1. In what ways do you experience creation “groaning” right now?2. How is God transforming you to be more like Jesus? How will you participate in that transformation?3. How will you maintain courage and strength to keep pushing through the labor pains of the world?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if creation itself could remind us of God's presence? In the midst of personal suffering, Job discovered that God's power and presence are revealed in creation. Even in our own struggles, we can find God in the wonder of the world around us, drawing closer to Him by caring for it.Reflection Questions:1. In what way do creation and nature teach you about God?2. How does creation help you remember that you are not helpless or alone?3. What steps will you take to care for creation?

Pastor Magrey deVega continues our Call to Care series with a message on one of the most overlooked forms of care: caring for yourself. Drawing from 3 John, he shows how true self-care is more than self-soothing—it's building inner resilience by tending to your body, your soul, and your mind. What daily practices help you walk in truth, strengthen your spirit, and live with greater peace? We'd love to hear how you're practicing self-care—and to walk that journey alongside you.Reflection Questions:1. What are your favorite practices for “self-soothing”?2. What practices help you build up inner resilience in your body, spirit, and mind?3. What new practice will you develop to care more holistically for yourself?Find out more and connect with us at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if courage comes from knowing we're never alone? St. Patrick, a key figure in early Celtic Christianity, gave us a prayer that brings comfort and strength to those who feel lost, alone, or afraid.Reflection Questions:1. When have you prayed that God would protect you? What has been the result?2. What will you do to participate in God's protection through integrity and courage?3. What difference will it make for you to see Christ in everyone you meet?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if true renewal begins with surrender? John Wesley's prayer for covenant renewal is a powerful reminder to shift our focus away from ourselves and toward obedience and surrender to God.  Reflection Questions:1. What would praying “Suscipe” to God each day mean for you?2. What new insights does the Wesley Covenant Prayer give you?3. How will you apply the Wesley Covenant Prayer to the way you live?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if God's intent is to deliver us from evil, not use it? The Lord's Prayer reminds us that God stands against evil, desiring our deliverance. The final line is a benedictory alleluia, declaring that all of who we are belongs to God, for all creation is part of His kingdom.Reflection Questions:1. What would it mean to give God all of what you have and do?2. How can you make your life a living Temple in which God resides?3. What new insights do you have about the Lord's Prayer, and what difference will it make?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if everything we need is already provided? God guides us away from anything that hinders our relationship with Him. These words remind us of God's providence and His call for us to co-create with Him.Reflection Questions:1. Which of the four petitions do you resonate with the most right now?2. What do you think it means to pray, “Lead us not into temptation”?3. How will reciting the Lord's Prayer deepen your desire and ability to love God and others?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The Lord's Prayer reminds us of this critical but often forgotten truth: It's not about us. We are not the center of the universe, and all we are and do should be centered in the worship and praise of God. Reflection Questions:1. What word or phrase do you find most meaningful from the Lord's Prayer? Why?2. What aspects of the Lord's Prayer prompt questions or curiosity for you?  3. How will the pronouns “Our” and “Your” make a difference in how you live each day?  Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if we all embraced the power to be witnesses? On Ascension Sunday, we hear Jesus' promise to the disciples: they would receive the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses, near and far. This service invites us to reclaim that evangelical spirit, which has been central to the Wesleyan movement from the start. Reflection Questions:1. What significant life stage transitions were rewarding? What were challenging?2. What did you learn about stability and moving forward as you went through those transitions?3. How will you strengthen both contemplation and action in your spiritual life?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The character Nostalgia does not get much screen time in the film Inside Out 2, but it is a significant and regular aspect of our personality and emotional makeup. The capacity to remember the past with fondness can be a gift. Indeed, the Bible is filled with numerous commands to remember what God has done, and to celebrate the faithfulness of our ancestors. At the same time, like all emotions, nostalgia can also be a detriment, if taken to an extreme. When we fail to live fully into the present or fail to have creative and hopeful imagination about the future, then we are unduly anchored in what was, rather than what can be.  Reflection Questions:1. What makes you feel nostalgic, and what past moments does it make you remember?2. How will you learn from both the good and bad memories of your past?3. What is your inner child telling you? What do you want to tell them?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if grief is not something to escape but something to navigate? Grief is the shadow side of love—we only grieve what we have loved. Avoiding grief means avoiding attachment, which is not an option in the human experience. The question isn't how to minimize grief but how to move through it in a healthy way.Reflection Questions:1. When are you most prone to experiencing sadness? Fear?2. In what ways can sadness and fear be beneficial? Detrimental?3. How will you learn to name sadness and fear, and express them in a healthy way?  Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if joy isn't about circumstances but about strength? True joy is anchored in the unwavering truth that God is our strength, no matter what we face. Reflection Questions:1. What does it mean for you to have healthy emotions?  2. How can you experience joy amid hardship?3. What do you think it means to believe that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In the most personal and poignant resurrection encounter in the gospels, Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden and revealed himself once he spoke aloud her name. The work of resurrection in us begins with recognizing our identity in Christ as a child of God, and then seeking to affirm the personhood of others who feel lost in their own grief and despair.  Reflection Questions:1. Why do you think Mary didn't recognize the resurrected Jesus?  2. In what ways do you live out of your false self?3. How can you allow God to help you rediscover and reveal your true self?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The ransom atonement theory is built on the notion that we are being held captive by forces that are beyond our control, and in the cross, God has released us from being held hostage. We are therefore called and empowered to be agents of liberation against the injustices people face in our society and in the world.Reflection Questions:1. In what ways has Jesus set you free from personal sins?2. How does the two-fold understanding of biblical justice change your view of justice?3. How is God calling you to be a part of setting people free from social injustice?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

The moral example atonement theory points to the entirety of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as the source of our salvation. In his teachings and example, we receive the model for how to love God and each other. We are therefore called and equipped to be agents of love that will overcome hatred and revenge, thereby fully revealing God's intended image within each of us.  Reflection Questions:1. What difference does it make for you in understanding the cross not just as a way to heaven, but as a way of experiencing eternal life on earth?2. Whom do you have trouble loving?3. How will you take steps this week to love the people who are hard to love?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In Christ, we have been reconciled with God. We are therefore called and equipped to be agents of reconciliation among groups who have been divided by discrimination and prejudice.Reflection Questions:1. When have you experienced significant struggle in matters of your own personhood and identity?2. How have you harbored racism in your own heart?3. How do you intend to be more anti-racist in your life, your relationships, and your actions in the world?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How can we ensure the Bible is a source of liberation rather than harm? Throughout history, Scripture has been misused to justify misogyny, racism, homophobia, and other systemic sins. In this episode, we explore how to read the Bible faithfully, uncovering its message of good news and freedom for all. Reflection Questions:1. What childhood story has brought you deeper meaning as you have gotten older?2. What passages in the Bible have been most troublesome for you to interpret?3. How will you approach the Bible through the lens of love, for God and others?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What do we do with troubling images of God in the Bible that seem inconsistent with his love and faithfulness? Stories of God's unpredictable actions can feel more like ancient mythology than the God we know. Explore how to read Scripture faithfully, uncovering its timeless truths beyond antiquated imagery. Reflection Questions1. What images for God in the Bible are among your favorites? What are most troubling to you?2. How has your relationship with God changed over time? What role did external circumstances play in those changes?3. What new way might you explore envisioning and relating to God in your life?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How can we reconcile a loving God with the violence depicted in the Bible? Many struggle with this challenge, especially when reading the Old Testament. Join us as we delve into how to navigate scripture faithfully while grappling with the tough questions about God, violence, and our understanding of his character. Reflection Questions:1. What biblical passages of violence are most troubling to you?2. How will you guard against the tendency to see the Old Testament as irrelevant or inferior?3. How will you live out the call of Jesus to non-violence?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How does the way we interpret the Bible shape our faith? A Wesleyan approach focuses on inspiration rather than rigid concepts of inerrancy or infallibility. This perspective invites us to read Scripture dynamically and contextually, unlocking deeper truth and broader applicability. Join us to explore why this distinction matters so much. Reflection Questions:1. How will you see spiritual practices as a way of being, rather than an expectation of doing?2. What does it mean to you for the Bible to be inspired?3. How can different perspectives bring you new insights when reading of the Bible?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What does it mean to give back to God through worship? Worship is our response to God's incredible gift of grace. Having received the breath of God, we use it to proclaim His power and might. Discover how worship reflects a beautiful cycle of grace and praise. Reflection Questions:1. How has Sunday worship prepared you to be worshipful throughout the week?2. What do you need to do to be more worshipful every day?3. How will worship enable you to be an inspiration for others?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What does it mean to serve with love as your foundation? God has uniquely designed each of us to serve in specific ways for his purpose. Join us as we explore how to embrace your calling and live it out with love at the center.Reflection Questions:1. When have you experienced disenchantment in your life, or in the world?2. What Fruit of the Spirit are easiest to demonstrate? What are hardest?3. What parts of Dr. King's sermon or Psalm 37 resonate most with you? Why?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

There is inspiration every day, with evidence of God's power and presence, if we will only be open to seeing it.Reflection Questions:1. How would you define inspiration, in terms of your own personal experience?2. When have you felt inspired by something that is not necessarily “religious” in nature?3. How might conflict and struggle be a source of inspiration for you?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Explore how letters connect us across time, offering encouragement, preserving memories, and deepening faith. Join Pastor Magrey deVega as we discover how the spirit of Christmas letters can inspire us to live with grace, love, and prayer all year long.Reflection Questions:1. What is the most cherished letter you have ever received?2. What are your most favorite Christmas letters you've received this year?3. What suggestions from today's sermon will you apply?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In Jesus the full divinity of God “was pleased to dwell.” Therefore, through Christ, we can be at peace with God and we can live in peace with one another.Reflection Questions:1, How do you think Jesus experienced full divinity when he was on earth?2. How does thinking about the life of Jesus draw you closer to God?3. How will you live out Jesus' example more fully?-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

Jesus is love incarnate, the “word of life” revealed to us as a human of both “water and blood.” He shows us the way of love, which shapes our relationships with God and others.Reflection Questions:1. What do you imagine the “magical circle” was like when you were born?2. When have you most vividly experienced God with your senses?3. How will you become more aware of God's love in ordinary moments?-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brings us good news, offering us the hope of salvation. In Romans, we see God's great plan to save all people from sin.Reflection Questions:1. What do you enjoy about receiving Christmas letters this time of year?2. How has God been faithful to you in the past? How is God active in your life now?3. If God were to write a Christmas letter to you now, what would it say?-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

Challenged to prove ourselves, we find our identity in Christ, our King.Reflection Questions:1. What do you think it means to call Jesus king?2. Do you think empathy is in short supply today? Who models it best for you?3. How will you emulate Jesus in your everyday life?-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

Christ never promises an easy walk, but one of sacrifice.Reflection Questions:1.) When in your life did all you thought was true and reliable seem “thrown down”?2.) When have you seen evidence of God not giving up during your hard times?3.) How will you release your energy as an act of defiant hope in the world?-- Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps --

The culmination of remembering our membership vows is an act of recommitment, which would include the submission of our estimates of giving cards. Reflection Questions:In what way do you experience this congregation as a “household”? How are you uniquely called and gifted to build up the work of this church? How will you recommit your efforts of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness?--Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps--

The kingdom of God is built one life at a time, one relationship at a time, one moment of personal invitation at a time. Reflection Questions:What experience have you had with evangelism that is coercive or argumentative? What natural ways will you be a witness for Jesus? Which of the five ways to be a witness come easiest for you? Hardest?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Giving of our time, talent, and treasure is a central aspect of discipleship, and, for some, is the most difficult one to surrender.Reflection Questions:1. When have you had a good experience baking bread, or enjoying bread someone else made?2. What difference does it make to see yourself as part of the global church of Jesus Christ? 3. How will you see your financial generosity as a way of making a living impact for God and others?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/nextsteps

Stories from our heritage not only tell us about our past. They remind us of who we are. Such is the story of our church's beginning, back in 1899, when a small group chose to sing “I Love to Tell the Story” at the site of what would become our church. Their courage and witness, coupled with their choice of song, tells us something about who we are.  HydeParkUMC.org/nextstepsReflection Questions:1. How can you re-prioritize your life, to focus less on being remembered, and more on being part of a story bigger than yourself? 2. How will you remember the “old, old story” of God's love in your life? 3. How will you live into the story of God's love through this church?

In 1899, a group of 30 people from First Methodist in Tampa crossed the Hillsborough River to begin meeting in a two-room schoolhouse at the corner of Platt and Magnolia. 125 years later, we are living into a legacy that has proclaimed the good news of Jesus and built the kingdom of God for generation. This three-part worship series celebrates the grace of God and the history of our church, and points us toward an exciting future for generations to come.HydeParkUMC.org/nextstepsReflection Questions:What favorite stories do you know about your ancestors? What does it mean for you to think of yourself as a simultaneous descendant and ancestor? How will you live faithfully now to leave a living impact for those to follow?

 John Wesley's famous sermon “Catholic Spirit” provides guidance on how Christians of different perspectives and traditions can find common ground, just as Jehu and Jehonadab joined hands in the passage in 2 Kings. Despite some significant differences among Protestant denominations, we hold much more in common, and we are called to forge a dynamic and united witness to the good news of Jesus Christ in the world. HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. What is the story of your religious journey? What faith traditions shape who you are?2. What similarities among denominations do you find most meaningful?3. What is best about being United Methodist to you?

Mary McLeod Bethune was an educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist, whose work was deeply rooted in her Christian convictions. Bethune-Cookman University stands as an enduring reminder of her legacy, as this states only United Methodist historically black college. Her famous quote “Without faith, nothing is possible; with faith, nothing is impossible” captures her belief in the power of God to transform hearts and communities for the better.  HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. What Voices of Inspiration in this worship series have been most meaningful to you, and why? 2. What insights and inspiration does Mary McLeod Bethune's story evoke in you? 3. How will you become a voice of inspiration to others?

Mahalia Jackson was one of the greatest musical artists of her generation, not just for her beautiful music, but also for her inspirational witness. Her most iconic moments were in her singing of “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” based on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew, which inspired comfort and encouragement during the civil rights movement. Her encouragement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to “tell them about the dream, Martin,” elicited the grand, sweeping conclusion to his famous speech in Washington, D.C.  HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. What do you think makes singing such a powerful form of individual and communal expression?2. What songs have been most inspiring to you throughout your life? 3. How familiar are you with the music of Mahalia Jackson? How might you listen to her music over the coming days? 

Mother Theresa of Calcutta was the greatest charitable force in our lifetimes. She inspired us to give of ourselves humbly and obediently for the sake of the poor and needy, regardless of the cost. Hers was a living embodiment of the psalmist's words, to “raise the poor out of dust, and the needy out of the ash heap.” Her life and witness is captured in her quote, based on Psalm 113: “Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. What is “Your Own Calcutta?” How will you practice and compassion and mercy to others? 2. In what ways can you be more persistent in doing the work Jesus calls you to do? 3. What lessons can you learn from Mother Teresa in how she named and dealt with doubt?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the most significant martyrs of the 20th century, whose courageous stance against the Hitler and Christian Nationalism continues to inspire us. In his famous book “The Cost of Discipleship,” he calls the church to remember that when God calls people to follow him, he “calls them to come and die.” HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. Who have been the significant “voices of inspiration” in your own spiritual journey? 2. What is something new you learned about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer? 3. How will you follow Jesus more closely this week?

For many, the existence of suffering and evil in the world is the greatest hurdle to full faith and belief in God. It seems irreconcilable that a God who is all-powerful and all-loving could allow the presence of pain and hardship. It is a dilemma that preacher and biblical scholar Tom Long called “the impossible chess match,” in which there is no clear and clean outcome. But faith allows us to trust where there are no easy answers, and follow God when we ask our hardest questions. HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. When have you wrestled with God's relationship to human suffering? 2. What has given you strength during times of hardship? Where do you think God was? 3. How have you experienced God transforming your suffering into something positive?

The early church theologian Anselm defined God as “a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.” This central premise led to the classic “omni” qualities of God: Omnipresence (God is everywhere), omnipotence (God is all powerful), and omnipresent (God is all knowing). These qualities have occasionally been problematic for us due to the presence of suffering and evil in the world. By reframing these qualities and incorporating God's “omnibenevolence” (God's all-lovingness), we can discover who God is in a deeper, more uplifting way.  HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsReflection Questions:1. Who are people who have embodied a quality of God for you? 2. Which attribute of God do you have the hardest time understanding or accepting? 3. When have you experienced the omnibenevolence of God?