Category

What does it mean to be blessed by God? How do we enter into God’s blessing? The story of Abraham helps us to understand how God’s blessing works. Read More →

Paul writes that we are like fragile earthen vessels or tents, and yet we are entrusted with the living and sharing of God’s Word. It is only by God’s grace that we can take on this mission. Read More →

During our United Methodist Women celebration, Judith Nedel of the Rebecca Circle delivered this message about finding true happiness and the scriptural basis for living a life filled with blessings. Read More →

What is God’s calling for your life? How do you discern, and follow, that call? Read More →

How do we come to faith—a personal faith that is real and that is our own? Read More →

What is the nature of evil? Why does it exist? What do we do about it? Like the first disciples, we are called to “cast out demons” today. Read More →

Christ brings triumph over the power of evil. The battle comes to focus on the cross and culminates in the resurrection. Evil may yet rage in the world, but its power over us is broken, when we put our faith in Christ. Read More →

People do not generally decide to be evil. They are drawn into it, they deceive themselves, and imagine they are OK when they are doing great wrong. We see the pattern again and again—in social movements from the Nazis to present-day Islamist terrorists, and in the behavior of... Read More →

Anger seems to be a motivating force in our society these days. There is nothing wrong with anger, in and of itself, but it is important to understand how the scriptures help us manage and direct anger. Read More →

What is the message of the many gospel stories in which Jesus casts out demons? Are there demons in our own lives, or in the world at large, from which we need deliverance today? The New Testament brings a powerful message about how Christ will free us from the demonic powers of... Read More →

The notion of “the dark side” in the Star Wars movies was drawn from an age-old perception in religion—that there are dark powers at work in the world. We see these powers today. As Paul said, “Our struggle is against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the... Read More →

Is there really something beyond this life? Can we believe in eternity? And if we believe in eternal life, what difference does that make for life right now? These questions are decisively answered on Easter. Read More →

Dr. Jonathan Smith delivers a message on the Palm Sunday story and Jesus’ journey into Holy Week. Read More →

Senior Kylee Thompson delivered an inspiring message on faith in action during our Youth Sunday service. Please contact Lynnette Begue-Lavery at lynnette@kentmethodist.org for a DVD copy of the service. Read More →

We like to do our own thing. We should not have to be responsible for someone else. Or does God have another idea? What is God’s vision for the human race? Read More →

In the book of Acts, early Christians were described as “the people who were turning the world upside down.” [Acts 17:6] Indeed Christ does turn the world upside down, reversing values, goals, and patterns of behavior. We only grasp the gospel when we understand the kind of... Read More →

“I can pray to God in a closet.” “I get closer to God by walking in the woods than by going to church.” “I am spiritual but not religious.” Such statements are common. But how in fact do we authentically connect with God? What brings us into a real and deep relationship with God?... Read More →

We cannot save ourselves. We need God! But how does God save us? And what sort of “salvation” do we need? God’s saving action comes finally to clear focus and fulfillment in the cross of Jesus Christ. Read More →

Perhaps the most revolutionary idea at the heart of the gospel is the idea of grace – that God is patient with us, will forgive sinners, and will finally give us love and endless blessing even though we do not deserve it. While many religions acknowledge God, affirm moral values,... Read More →

Can you be good without God? Many people argue that we can have moral values without belief in God. Others note that some people who believe in God have very twisted values. In fact, human societies have had all sorts of values; even Nazis thought their actions were justified.... Read More →

The terrorist shouts, “God is great,” while slaughtering innocent people. The terrorist cannot shout, “God is good.” To say, “God is good,” is to make a fundamental claim about life – that good will triumph over evil, because the very nature of God is to create good. But how does... Read More →

In order to find the answer to one’s sickness, it is essential to correctly diagnose the problem! The great human errors of the past century – from Communism to secular materialism to the current Islamist terrorism – are all rooted in a wrong understanding of our basic problem.... Read More →

Are we more than a cosmic accident? Does life have any ultimate purpose? Is there a Master Designer and Artist behind all that we see? The Bible gives a clear answer, which is fully coherent with modern science. Read More →

The new covenant in Jesus is a new relationship with God in which God’s law is in our hearts. God establishes the covenant; we are invited to respond. Read More →

The light of Christ comes to us, and is to radiate from us to the world. Read More →

New Spirit’s Annual Christmas Cantata. Read More →

Isaiah uses the image of watchmen who “see the advent of the Lord in Zion” and goes on to say that “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The Isaiah passage also contains the image, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who... Read More →

The Immanuel image. In Old Testament days, King Ahaz is given the sign of Immanuel (a child born with that name) to draw him to faith instead of fear. Centuries later, in a far greater way, God gives humanity the sign of Immanuel in Jesus, to bring us out of fear into faith. Read More →

We look to Christ for hope. Read More →

Isaiah speaks of the salvation that God will bring through the Messiah, and urges us to “give thanks.” Read More →

What seems dead and dried up can be revived. The Valley of Dry Bones image is a powerful image of resurrection, speaking not only of resurrection to life eternal but of a spiritual revival in the here and now. Read More →

What we keep for ourselves is lost, what we give for God’s purposes endures. Haggai calls the people to stop just focusing on their own houses and to “build God’s house.” The people respond with commitment. Read More →

“All flesh is grass,” says Isaiah, “but the word of our God will stand forever.” All things are passing. The prophets call us to ground ourselves on what endures – on God and God’s promises. Read More →

The story of Bartimaeus. Read More →

The most valuable things in life are not attained with money. God’s grace is free. This does not mean that it is cheap, or that it should be taken lightly. The gift of Christ moves us to orient our lives toward what is of true value. Read More →

Our district superintendent stopped by to give a message on our church for our Bicentennial Celebration Sunday event. Read More →

Christ brings peace. The Isaiah passage is the famous “the wolf shall live with the lamb” image, and the Micah passage is the “swords into ploughshares” image, which has had a recent expression in the “megatons to megawatts” project. Read More →

The “living water” imagery is found in Ezekiel, who has a vision of a new temple, with a river of water flowing from it, which brings life to all. Zechariah reiterates the image: “on that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem.” The imagery is repeated in a climactic way... Read More →

The image of the “repairer of the breach” points first of all to the fact that there is a basic breach or gap between ourselves and God, which results in a breach in our relations with others. Christ is the repairer of the breach, who restores us into right relationship with God... Read More →

We need a spiritual transformation. God promises a “new heart and new spirit,” a promise that comes to fulfillment in Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Read More →

In the midst of trials, the ancient Israelites were inclined to want to rely on their own strength. Isaiah perceived that such self-reliance is doomed, and called the people to return to God and to rest in God’s strength. Read More →

Ezekiel is called to preach and serve God faithfully, even though he will have little initial success. He is to keep on anyways. We are called not to success but to faithful service, with the trust that God’s purposes will ultimately unfold. Read More →

The beasts of Daniel’s vision represent successive evil empires. We continue to deal with one evil after another. But the prophetic vision is the perception that God is on the throne, and God will ultimately triumph. No matter what evils may rage in our world, we can trust in... Read More →

Worship and professed belief are empty until they are expressed in action for God’s purposes. The basic sin of ancient Israel was apathy and unconcern for the needy. They thought they were O.K. with God and had no need to do anything further. If we truly receive what Christ does... Read More →

The “day of the Lord” was the anticipated day of God’s judgment upon sinners, which ancient Israelites imagined would be God’s wrath upon their enemies, but which the prophets proclaimed would be God’s severe judgment upon the people of Israel for their own sins. The prophets... Read More →

This is the spectacular “Ezekiel saw the wheel” vision, in which Ezekiel has a vision which speaks of the glory of God, the fact that God is beyond description, and the fact that God is present in every place (God moves). Read More →

This will be an introspective journey as we reflect upon the spiritual nature of our interior self/being. I will be reflecting on this “being’s” nature and how it affects our daily living. In the Ephesian scripture, Paul writes about this “inner being” and how it must be nurtured... Read More →

Where do we come from? What is our destiny? In Jesus – “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” – we discover who we truly are, and a glorious destiny. Read More →

We build our lives on a solid foundation when we build upon Christ. Read More →