Podcasts about united methodist

DateFebruary 1, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by diving into the structural integrity of the 'frame.' We move past the foundation of 'somebodiness' to see how the prophet Micah's call reveals the essential, non-negotiable components: to do justice, embrace hesed (faithful love), and walk humbly with God. These three elements are the core beams and joists of a life of faith, ensuring that your efforts do not collapse into self-righteousness, cheap charity, or burnout, so the Beloved Community you're building can actually bear weight.ReferencesScripture: Micah 6:1–8About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Summary In this conversation, Jesse Enniss and John Yeager engage with Nathan Webb, author of 'God and the Machine', to explore the intersection of faith and technology. They discuss the historical context of technology in relation to faith, the ethical implications of AI in ministry, and the importance of building relationships in a digital age. Nathan shares his experiences as a church planter and the role of AI in enhancing accessibility and community within the church. The discussion emphasizes the need for ethical considerations in the use of technology and the enduring relevance of love and grace in ministry. Bio: Nathan Webb is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and the founding pastor of Checkpoint Church, a digital-first United Methodist community. He writes and teaches at the intersection of faith, technology, and pop culture, creating accessible theology for digital natives and digital skeptics alike. Through YouTube, Twitch Substack, Discord, and other online platforms, Nathan reaches a global audience with weekly "nerdy sermons" and creative resources for churches navigating the digital age. Show Notes: God and the Machines Cokesbury Book Cokesbury Leader Guide Amazon Book Amazon Leader Guide The Remarkable Life of Ibelin News The A.I. Advantage The 2025 Annual Conference Journal Peace Conference 2026

Recently, leaders from our conference joined colleagues from across the South Central Jurisdiction in El Paso for the All Things in Common gathering. Bishops, conference staff, and leaders came together for worship, conversation, and honest storytelling about where the Church is and where God might be leading next. But El Paso wasn't just a meeting location. It was a place already deeply connected to the Louisiana Conference. While there, we spent time at Lydia Patterson Institute, a United Methodist school serving students in the El Paso–Juárez border region, a school that many in Louisiana know well, and care deeply about. Earlier this year, during our Annual Conference session, LPI President Dr. Carla Cardoza shared urgent news. A sudden pause on student visa interviews by the U.S. State Department impacted nearly half of LPI's student body. In response, the Louisiana Conference, along with the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, made a significant financial commitment to help the school continue educating students remotely. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cardoza in her office at Lydia Patterson Institute. She shares how that gift was used, how the school has navigated the visa shutdown, and what it means to lead a community of hope and resilience amid unprecedented government disruption. Support LPI - Click Here

This week, we launch a new series focusing on our stated goals: Transformed People, Transformed Relationships, Transformed Conditions. How might God be inviting us into personal transformation so that we can move towards God's preferred future? 

Due to the winter storm on the weekend, we were unable to gather in person. So Brent hopped online to offer a prayer and share a few thoughts about the death of Alex Pretti, what to do with our anger, and more.

This week, we wrap up our sermon series called Gifts from Jesus, exploring how Jesus invites us into curiosity as a way of being so that we might let go of certainty and control, and instead lean into God's preferred future together. 

METHODISM Podcast Episode 2: How Pastors are Appointed to ChurchesHave you ever wondered:+ how pastors are selected and appointed to local churches? + what Bishops help do in overseeing churches in the United Methodist faith tradition? + what is the difference between an Elder and a Deacon in the United Methodist Church?+ how you can help Oak Grove prepare for Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitt's retirement in June 2026 and the announcement of who will follow her as the Senior Pastor at OGUMC? Well, you're in luck! In this 2nd episode of the Methodism Podcast we'll hear a live-recorded conversation and Q&A with retired Bishop Larry Goodpaster and retired District Superintendent Rev. Dr. David Naglee. participate in the congregational life of Oak Grove. Many thanks to the participants in this discussion and to the many church members who attended this live recording on Sunday January 11th, 2026 in the Oak Grove Sanctuary. And, special thanks to Bishop Goodpaster and Dr. Naglee!You can listen, watch, & subscribe to the Podcast on:+ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@OGUMC/podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠+ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nGIcxSt5ToGbAcs0dmua2?si=3328d0411f194865 + Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oak-grove-umc-podcast/id1695962000 — Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11am* Traditional Worship and 1045am* Modern Worship.*livestreamed at YouTube.com/ogumc #newyear #methodism #umc #ogumc

This week, we continue our sermon series called Gifts from Jesus, exploring how Jesus first embedded himself in the community before the launch of his community. How do we turn to each other and lean into shared life as we name one another as Beloved in a world that tries to push us apart? 

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Matt and Magrey reflect on Baptism of the Lord Sunday by sharing personal baptism stories and exploring why baptism is more than a single moment in time. They talk about baptism as an intergenerational promise, the role of community and instruction in the Christian tradition, and how remembering our baptism invites imagination, play, and renewal—not just formality. Along the way, they unpack the United Methodist understanding of grace, why God is the primary actor in baptism, and how dying and rising with Christ continues to shape faith across a lifetime.Reach out to Mat with any questions about YOUR baptism journey at MHotho@hydeparkumc.orgFind out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

DateJanuary 11, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the disruptive power of Jesus's baptism, revealing how it offers a new imagination for how we see the world. Jesus steps into the water to redefine righteousness—it's not about maintaining purity or order, but about radical solidarity that shatters systems of control and exclusion. By claiming our first, revolutionary name as Beloved, we embody a vision in which justice flows like a river and are empowered to take a bold next step toward the healing of God's world.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 3:13–17About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Happy New Year! This week, we launched a new series called Gifts from Jesus, exploring how Jesus reshapes the ways we live our lives. Turning to the arrival of the Magi in Matthew 2, we reflect on the Gift of Wonder and how wonder leads us to the courage to stay open, to keep paying attention, and to trust that God is still surprising us with love. 

DateJanuary 4, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore the stark contrast between the desperate, grasping control of King Herod and the open-handed, joyful trust of the Magi on Epiphany Sunday. Tired of the anxiety that comes with trying to manufacture, manage, and secure every outcome in your life? The Epiphany story is an invitation to receive the gift of God already present. Release your white-knuckled grip, surrender your own agenda, and step into a new year with a posture of open hands and wonder, ready to receive the revelation God is offering.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

On Christmas Eve, Pastor Joe reflected on how God invites us to "Make Room". When we make room for God, something else also begins to happen: Making room for God reshapes how we make room for people!

DateDecember 24, 2025SynopsisIn this special Christmas Eve homily, we wrestle with the chasm between the wide-eyed wonder of a child's Christmas and the sleepless anxiety of adult logistics and existential uncertainty. We discover that the Christmas story is not a distant, sanitized tale but a radical, relatable gift of divine presence. It reveals God drawing near—Emmanuel—to stand in solidarity with us amid the pressure, grief, and disorientation of our modern lives. Joy enfleshed is for you.Scripture: Luke 2:1–20About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this episode of The Perspectivalist, we examine a viral controversy that exposed a growing fracture within American Christianity. When Buddhist monks walked through central Louisiana promoting a “walk for peace,” many Christians applauded the gesture. Christ Fellowship pastor Jeff Mercer did not. In a brief, two-minute video, he stated a basic Christian claim: true peace comes not through mindfulness or meditation, but through Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.The response was swift and severe. Accusations of intolerance followed, but most strikingly, the sharpest opposition came not from secular critics, but from fellow Christians. Within days, the United Methodist facility where Mercer's church had met for nearly a decade revoked their access—explicitly citing his public statements.In this conversation, Jeff Mercer joins us to discuss the video, the fallout, and what this episode reveals about contemporary Christianity's discomfort with exclusivity, its accommodation to Eastern mysticism, and its fear of speaking plainly in the public square. We explore how ideas of peace have been redefined, why “vanilla” gospel claims now provoke outrage, and what it means to confess Christ openly in a culture—and church—that increasingly prefers silence over clarity.This is a sobering but hopeful conversation about courage, faithfulness, and the cost of public Christianity in our time.

DateDecember 21, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dismantle the myth that joy is a prize to be earned or a mindset to be curated. Digging into the Christmas story—from the animals who bear witness to the cosmic claim of John's sarx—we discover that God has already pitched a tent in the fragile, biological stuff of creation. Joy isn't a reward for overcoming; it's an ever-present sign of God's presence, which holds us through everything and is simply waiting for our attention.ReferencesScripture: John 1:1–5, 14O Magnum MysteriumAbout The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

This week, we welcome our Pastor of Community Engagement, Rev. Kristin Joyner, to continue our Advent Series called Desperate Measures as we turn to Joy. In her sermon, she reminds us that Jesus offers us a path, with clear directives on how we can participate in the creation of joy not just for ourselves but for everyone!

DateDecember 14, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we venture into the dark fields alongside the shepherds, discovering that the first announcement of the Incarnation was entrusted to those on the margins. We explore how the angelic proclamation disrupts our fear, revealing a joy that is not a scarce commodity for the pious, but a generous, cosmic invitation for all humanity. This is a story about a God who breaks through the silence to offer a love that is unapologetically inclusive and meant to be shared.Scripture: Luke 2:8–18About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

"In Advent, we celebrate and anticipate the earth-shaking, life-transforming good news that God is coming to us. Watch out. Get ready. God is on the way." – Will Willimon, Heaven and Earth  Rev. Dr. Will Willimon joined Good Shepherd on Tuesday, December 10, 2025 via Zoom for a conversation about the often-misunderstood season of Advent. In 2024, Willimon authored "Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation" and this conversation touched on the message of the book along with his experiences in leading congregations through the season of Advent. About Will Willimon | (Bio from Heaven and Earth) Will Willimon is a preacher and teacher of preachers. He is a United Methodist bishop (retired) and serves as Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Duke Divinity School. He is former Dean of the Chapel at Duke University and is considered by many as one of America's best-known and most influential preachers. He has written over 90 books and has sold over a million copies.

This week, we welcome our Director of Discipleship and Care, Brian Fu, to continue our Advent Series called Desperate Measures as we turn to Peace. It is evident that the world is not as it is supposed to be. How might we be called to be peacemakers, not simply working towards the absence of conflict, but more so towards shalom? 

Segment 1 • Jury trials scrapped in Britain for offenses under 3 years—what's next? • Canadian pastor jailed for protesting drag story hour; euthanasia stats in Canada shock the world. • Nigeria: over 200 school kids kidnapped as Christian persecution runs rampant. Segment 2 • 61% of pastors now using AI weekly—how should congregants think about this? • Ridiculous complaints raised by cheater website Ashley Madison about AI chatbots. • 90% of college students think “words = violence.” Segment 3 • Christians face two dangerous extremes: being consumed by bad news vs. living in ignorance. • "Wise as serpents, infuriated at evil" — we're called to be informed, not indifferent. • A United Methodist preacher announces he's “transitioning” — and claims it's part of his ministry. Segment 4 • UMC pastor tells kids they don't need to obey their parents if feelings are hurt. • Claims he's not “becoming a woman,” just stopping the charade of acting like a man. • This isn't deep thinking — it's moral sophistry being fed to children. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

What does it mean that God takes on human flesh?In our Nicene Creed series we're tackling these next lines:Lines: Through him all things were made.    For us and for our salvation        he came down from heaven:And we're talking with dear friend, mentor, and fellow church planter Rev. Lisa Yebuah, the lead pastor of Southeast Raleigh Table. We tackle the myths around the human body being a divine problem, what it means for our God to suffer and live as one of us, and why the incarnation has a robust meaning in our current political, spiritual, and theological landscape. More about our guest, Rev. Lisa:Reverend Lisa Yebuah currently serves as the Lead Pastor of the Southeast Raleigh Table, a United Methodist worshipping community located near downtown Raleigh. She's a 1999 graduate of Wofford College and a 2004 graduate of Duke University Divinity School. What fuels her life in ministry is seeing people become their whole selves, and in turn, witnessing people live like and believe that the world can be collectively marked by liberation. Reverend Yebuah is deeply invested in her local community, and works alongside organizations engaged in advocacy for affordable housing, a living wage, access to mental wellness resources, and equity in public education. Most would describe Lisa as a glutton for joy, a lover of people and the enneagram, a self-professed party-starter, and a biscuit connoisseur. She also admits to having a slight obsession with “Abbott Elementary” and “The Office,” and hopes that one day 90's R&B becomes required listening.+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Welcome to another episode of Wesleyan Ways: Exploring Our Methodist Roots. In this episode, host Lan Davis-Wilson, Director of Belonging and Advocacy, and Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson sit down with Rev. April Casperson—an ordained deacon and Director of Enrollment Management at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO). April brings deep experience in diversity and inclusion, vocational discernment, and intercultural development, and together they explore one central question: How do United Methodists welcome others with the same loving acceptance that Christ extends to us?

DateDecember 7, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the revolutionary idea that joy is a muscle, not a mood. The daily practice of "Repeating the Sounding Joy" offers us a different path at the crossroads of control and trust, training our hearts for resilience instead of despair. We explore how Mary's defiant Magnificat—a song rehearsed over a lifetime—kickstarts an "upward spiral" of hope that disrupts the "downward spiral" of fear that threatened Joseph. Discover how to build the muscle memory of joy, aligning your present heart with God's joyful endgame for the world.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

This week, Pastor Joe launches our Advent Series titled Desperate Measures as we recognize that our world is not as it should be. How might we live into hope, not as optimism or pretending that everything will work out, but rather as a declaration that better days are coming? 

Pastor Roger Ross tackles this question head-on in Kinda Christian: From Curious to Serious about Jesus (Invite Ministries; October 21, 2025). His book offers a practical roadmap for anyone stuck in spiritual limbo, whether they're agnostic, exploring faith or sitting in church pews without real transformation. Kinda Christian provides actionable pathways through six key principles: glory, grace, group, growth, giftedness, and generosity.  Ross draws from decades of pastoral leadership—including ten years leading one of the Midwest's largest United Methodist churches—to show how modern lives are still being transformed by authentic faith. ROGER'S MINISTRYBACKGROUND FAITH JOURNEYTEENAGE & EARLY ADULTHOOD FAITH AGENCYLEAD PASTOR 10 YEARSFOUNDER OF INVITE MINISTRIES & THE HUMILITY GROUPMYTH ABOUT PASTORSMOST CHALLENGING IN VOCATIONAL MINISTRY?HAS CHURCH LOST THE ART OF DISCIPLESHIP?  WHY?CULTURECULTURAL CHRISTIAN VS BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN?DIFFERENTIATE CONVICTION OVER CONVENIENCEREGARDLESS OF RELIGION, SPIRITUAL FLUIDITY & PROGRESSIVENESS, or DENOMINATION | WHAT ARE THE BASIC EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS ALL PEOPLE HAVE BOOKKinda Christian: From Curious to Serious about Jesus RELEASED END OF OCTOBER MANY BOOKS ON DISCIPLESHIP HOW IS KINDA CHRISTIAN UNIQUE?WHO'S IT FOR? WHY NOW?DISCUSS: BRIDGING SPIRITUAL CURIOSITY AND AUTHENTIC FAITH.DEFINE SPIRITUAL CURIOSITY WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE WE NEED THIS BRIDGE?HOW DO WE FIND THIS AREA OF NEED?DISCIPLINED TACTICAL APPROACH TO BRIDGING THIS GAP?GOOD > GOD > GOSPEL CONVERSATION CHRISTIANS AND PASSIVE FAITHMORE PREVALENT? Why?Kinda Christian provides a practical roadmap for spiritual transformation. Divided into two sections, the book first focuses on cultivating deeply devoted disciples and then equips readers to guide others on the same journey. TWO SECTIONSSection One: Deeply Devoted DisciplesSection Two: Disciples Who Make Disciples3 CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISCIPLE:1. Love God2. Launch Community3. Unleash CompassionG6 NETWORKGlory: A disciple joyfully and intentionally lives in the presence of God both privately and publicly.Grace: A disciple has personally accepted the unmerited love of God offered in Jesus Christ and intentionally shares Christ's love with those who don't know him yet.Group: A disciple regularly connects with a handful of other disciples totaste grace, apply Scripture, and encourage one another to become like Christ in thought, word, and action.Growth: A disciple takes personal responsibility for his or her spiritual journey by practicing spiritual disciplines that cultivate Christ-centered living and by helping others grow on their journey.Giftedness: A disciple sees his or her identity as a servant of Christ, discovers one's spiritual gifts, deploys them in ministry under God's direction, and develops them to their fullest potential.Generosity: A disciple humbly recognizes all of life belongs to God and cheerfully gives his or her time and resources to bring Christ's healing, justice, and hope to those in need.FUTURE VISIONINVITE MINISTRIES | DISCUSS“high on Jesus and low on politics.”SHOULD WE COMPARTMENTALIZE?SHOULD CHRISTIANS AVOID VOICING TRUTH IN UNCOMFORTABLE SECTORS?ENCOURAGEMENT AND CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIAN MEN

DateNovember 30, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we kick off our Advent series, Repeat the Sounding Joy: Practicing an Honest Advent, by reclaiming joy as a defiant and contagious act of resistance. Joy is not a denial of despair, but an empowering force that opens our lips and loosens our tongues to sing of a future that refuses to be limited by current reality. We explore how Elizabeth's loud blessing and Zechariah's prophetic song disrupt the silence of Empire, giving us the courage to bless what God is doing and declare the breaking dawn now.ReferencesScripture: Luke 1:39–45; Luke 1:67–80About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

This week, we wrapped our 140th Anniversary sermon series by turning to the story of the Israelites thirsty in the wilderness. God tells Moses: "I will be standing there in front of you on the rock." From that rock, water flowed; from hard places, streams emerge. As we celebrate 140 years, we're called to walk toward the rock with courage, trusting God is already there. The next 140 years begin now!

DateNovember 23, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we conclude our In Good Company series by venturing into the often-terrifying landscape of our own minds with guest speaker Cody Deese. Rather than treating anxiety as a spiritual failure or a monster to be exiled, Cody reframes our panic as a flare gun from the "internal universe," signaling a deep need for attention and love. He invites us to stop trying to talk our way out of fear and instead feel our way through it, discovering that the Divine is waiting for us right in the center of the storm.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

It’s our 200th episode! Thank you for joining us as the Rev. Dr. Ron Bell, Dr. Ashley Boggan and Rev. Matt Rawle take a look at the profound change The United Methodist Church has experienced during the past four years and share honest reflections on what these shifts mean for how United Methodists live into … Continue reading "Celebrating 200 episodes: Reflecting on four years in The UMC"

This week, we continue coverage of the United Nations climate negotiations known as COP30 held this year in Belém, Brazil. Last week, we had the Texas Impact team reporting from Belém, and today, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards joins the program soon after returning from the COP to talk to us about the latest from the conference with a few days remaining. Becca wears two hats—one as Dr. Becca Edwards, the climate scientist, and the other as Rev. Becca Edwards, United Methodist pastor. So, she will share her perspective as both a scientist and a pastor who has been writing about the role faith and morality played at the COP and the role people of faith have in responding to the climate crisis.  Check out our team's work on Texas Impact's substack and YouTube as well as through Texas Impact's media partnerships with the Austin Chronicle, Baptist News Global, and United Methodist Insight.  Get full access to Texas Impact at texasimpact.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we continue coverage of the United Nations climate negotiations known as COP30 held this year in Belém, Brazil. Last week, we had the Texas Impact team reporting from Belém, and today, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards joins the program soon after returning from the COP to talk to us about the latest from the conference with a few days remaining. Becca wears two hats—one as Dr. Becca Edwards, the climate scientist, and the other as Rev. Becca Edwards, United Methodist pastor. So, she will share her perspective as both a scientist and a pastor who has been writing about the role faith and morality played at the COP and the role people of faith have in responding to the climate crisis. Check out our team's work on Texas Impact's substack and YouTube as well as through Texas Impact's media partnerships with the Austin Chronicle, Baptist News Global, and United Methodist Insight.

Top headlines for Friday, November 21, 2025YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald reflects on the Bible app surpassing 1 billion downloads and cautions pastors about rushing into AI. Christian artist Forrest Frank raises alarms after an AI-generated musician tops the iTunes Christian charts. Meanwhile, a United Methodist bishop warns that the denomination's “financial house is on fire,” calling attention to critical funding problems.00:11 Trump, Vance snubbed at Cheney funeral; Bush eulogizes00:56 YouVersion founder talks concerns about pastors' embrace of AI01:42 Forrest Frank speaks out as AI artist nabs top Christian album02:26 UMC's ‘financial house is on fire,' bishop says03:18 Doctor suspended after woman claims he gave her abortion pills04:04 41% of young adults support giving AI broad gov't powers04:56 Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition reveals 'power' of biblical textsSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsDoctor suspended after woman claims he gave her abortion pills | U.S.Trump, Vance snubbed at Cheney funeral; Bush eulogizes | PoliticsYouVersion founder talks concerns about pastors' embrace of AI | Church & MinistriesForrest Frank speaks out as AI artist nabs top Christian album | EntertainmentUMC's ‘financial house is on fire,' bishop says | Church & Ministries41% of young adults support giving AI broad gov't powers | U.S.Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition reveals 'power' of biblical texts | U.S.

Send us a textSpiritual warfare can be confusing, even intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. In this conversation, Susan Eaton, Cliff Burris, and Dr. Stephen Seamands discuss what spiritual warfare is, why it shows up in our lives, and how we can discern when it's happening. Dr. Seamands offers practical wisdom from years of ministry, emphasizing the importance of helping people heal instead of getting preoccupied with the oppression itself. It's a grounded, hope-filled exploration you won't want to miss.Book Recommendation: The Believer's Guide to Spiritual Warfare, by Tom WhiteABOUT: Dr. Stephen Seamands currently serves as Professor Emeritus at Asbury Theological Seminary, having retired in May 2018 fromhis position as Professor of Christian Doctrine, in which he had served for thirty-five years. Prior to assuming a teaching position at the seminary in 1983, he pastored United Methodist churches in southern New Jersey for eleven years.Steve has continued to teach courses for the seminary as an affiliate professor. He is known for gracefully merging the classical and the practical. His courses on doctrine and practical theology are taught with a scholar's mind and a pastor's heart.He is the author of eight books including Holiness of Heart and Life (Abingdon Press, 1990), Wounds that Heal: Bringing Our Hurts to the Cross (InterVarsity Press, 2003), which is available in six languages and Ministry in the Image of God: The  Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service (InterVarsity Press, 2005), which received the 2006 Christianity Today “Award of Merit” for books in the area of Church and pastoral leadership; The Unseen Real: Living in the Light of the Ascension of Jesus (Seedbed, 2016). His most recent book is Follow the Healer: Biblical and Theological Foundations for Healing Ministry (Zondervan Reflective/Seedbed, 2023). He has also written articles for various journals and magazinesThanks for listening to the Embodied Holiness Podcast. We invite you to join the community on Facebook and Instagram @embodiedholiness. Embodied Holiness is a ministry of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. If you're in the Hattiesburg area and are looking for a church home, we'd love to meet you and welcome you to the family. You can find out more about Parkway Heights at our website.

This morning, we continue our 140th Anniversary Celebration by welcoming the Resident Bishop of the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, and turning to Ephesians 1:15-22. The Bishop challenges us to look forward to the next 140 years with the same faithfulness and steadfastness that has carried us this far. 

DateNovember 16, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the third week of our series, In Good Company: A Series on Saints, by meeting John Wesley—a restless striver who felt compelled to earn his destiny. Discover how Wesley's relentless pursuit of holiness gave way to an inexplicable moment of surrender that radically transformed his life and launched a movement. The relentless pressure to be "enough" melts away when we realize that God's love for us is not a reward to be earned, but a gift that comes first. This profound assurance is what liberates us to stop fearing failure and start loving the world.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

This week, we launch our 140th Anniversary Celebration by turning to the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea. Pastor Joe reminds us that faith is not nostalgia. It is not about recreating what was. It is about stepping toward what could be, even when the way is not clear. How might we live into the new thing that God is doing? 

DateNovember 9, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, the second in our In Good Company series, we dive deep into the extraordinary life of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Her childhood lessons about the sacredness of the wild fig tree rooted a life of radical faithfulness. We explore how her seemingly small act—planting seven trees—grew wild and untamed, like the kingdom of heaven itself, becoming a powerful movement for environmental justice, women's empowerment, and political liberation. Our small efforts matter, reminding us that we are called to root healing and hope wherever we are.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateNovember 2, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how St. Ignatius of Loyola—once a vain soldier obsessed with glory—discovered that faith isn't about achievement but friendship with God. Through his story and the encounter between Jesus and blind Bartimaeus, we're invited to consider Jesus's tender question: "What do you want me to do for you?" This first installment of the In Good Company series reminds us that when we embrace our need for divine friendship rather than trying to earn our way to God, our vision is restored and we're empowered to "set the world on fire" with love.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this episode, Word&Way President Brian Kaylor talks with Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister in the Chicago area. Kardon was violently arrested during a protest outside an ICE facility on Oct. 17. Video of the incident can be viewed here. Other issues discussed in this episode include ICE actions at churches, the legal pushback against the Trump administration by various denominations, and the misuse of Bible verses by the Department of Homeland Security. Watch a video version of this latest conversation here. Note: Don't forget to subscribe to our award-winning e-newsletter A Public Witness that helps you make sense of faith, culture, and politics. And order the new book by Brian Kaylor, The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power.

Don't miss our latest conversation with Reverend Joe Graves, a United Methodist pastor and church planter!Joe shares his incredibly personal and practical experiences, diving into:⛪️ His journey as part of a clergy couple and the realities of balancing leadership and family life in ministry.

This week, Pastor Joe wraps up our three-week Generosity series by turning to Jesus' parable found in Luke 18:9-14. How might we be challenged to be generous by recognizing our worth, not in comparison to each other, but all under God's faithfulness and God's mercy? 

DateOctober 26, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we scratch the record on apathy and tune our ears to the Spirit's invitation to dream again. We confront the haunting script that “nothing matters” and pivot toward a defiant, embodied hope—where God restores what locusts devour and empowers all people to imagine and co-create a more just, beautiful world. Expect honest lament, bold re-imagining, and a summons to actionable faith that interrupts despair with possibility.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Today we welcome the students from the Denton Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist campus ministry at UNT, and their Executive Director, Rev. Marianne Brown-Trigg, who will be leading us in worship.  Join us for the message “Stay on Your Grind.”

Shane Page was raised in a United Methodist family in North Carolina, and went on to become an elder and a pastor in a congregation there, serving 18 years in church leadership. He didn't grow up with any experience of Catholicism, and had almost no knowledge of it, but his desire to be as fully formed as possible in his faith led him to dive headfirst into questions of history, liturgy, and even the lives of the saints, especially St. Therese of Lisieux. In 2021, after resigning his ministry, he entered into full communion with the Catholic Church.

DateOctober 19, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the haunting fear that darkness will devour us. Through Jacob's midnight wrestling match with God, we discover that darkness isn't something to run from—it's a doorway to transformation. Wrestling with God in our darkest moments isn't a sign of faithlessness, but an invitation to experience divine presence and emerge changed, even if limping. Based on Genesis 32:22-31, with references to Barbara Brown Taylor's wisdom on sacred darkness and Kate Bowler's reflections on blessing through struggle.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

In this nonprofit spotlight conversation, Carla Moore, CEO of United Methodist Community House, discusses the organization's mission to strengthen the community across generations through various programs. She highlights the significant need for early childhood education and food security in Grand Rapids, as well as the importance of data in shaping their strategies. Carla also emphasizes the organization's efforts to build financial sustainability and future plans for expansion, including affordable housing and community engagement.Charity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

DateOctober 12, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the haunting narrative of isolation and loneliness plaguing our modern world. Pastor Meg Greto challenges the "pandemic of loneliness" by diving into Jeremiah's powerful letter to the exiles, revealing God's unexpected prescription for healing: plant gardens, build community, and seek the shalom (complete peace and flourishing) of the place where you are. Through practical actions and deep connection to both land and neighbor, we discover that God's story always calls us from isolation into beloved community. Scripture references: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

The first bishop ordained in a central conference and later elected to serve in the United States, Bishop Carlo Rapanut shares how growing up in a United Methodist church in his hometown of Baguio City, Philippines, shaped his leadership and call to ministry. A dedicated runner and ultra-marathoner, he reflects on discerning his call within … Continue reading "Meet Bishop Carlo Rapanut"

Pleasure to have former United Methodist minister Dodie on with us this week to talk about Father Gabriel's first appearance and everything else in this episode. Links: Jason's interview with Andrew J. West (Gareth): https://podcastica.com/podcast/the-cast-of-us/episode/156-no-sanctuary-s5e1-andrew-j-west-gareth  Next up: TWD S5E3 “Four Walls and a Roof”. Let us know your thoughts! You can email or send a voice message to talk@podcastica.com.  Or check out our Facebook group, where we put up comment posts for each episode, at facebook.com/groups/podcastica. Seen Alien: Earth yet? It's been pretty great so far. Join Jason, Randy, and Kara to talk it out on Wax Episodic. Available wherever you get podcasts, or at waxepisodic.com   Show support and get ad-free episodes and a bunch of other cool stuff: patreon.com/jasoncabassi  Or go to buymeacoffee.com/cabassi for a one-time donation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices