In our relationship with God, we tend to do a lot of talking. In hurried prayers, we tell God what we want, then race off before God has a chance to get a word in edgewise. Then we wonder why life seems so frustrating.

Maybe we’re swimming against the tide. This sermon will explore how to learn to listen to God.

Today’s scripture: Micah 3:4-7, 9-12

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 Ears Wide Shut [34:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

When you picture the personality of God, what comes to mind? Perhaps the classic Unmoved Mover — aloof, measured, dispassionate.

When you hear about the anger of God, what do you imagine provokes that anger? Perhaps insubordination: “How dare you disobey me; don’t you know I could crush you!”

In this sermon, the prophet Hosea will challenge us to embrace a very different understanding of God’s personality  — to see God as maybe we never have before.

Today’s scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

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 Love Hurts [40:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Do you feel loved by God?

If you’ve been around church for any length of time, you’ve probably had it drilled into your head. God is Love. Jesus loves you.

But do you know it? Do you feel loved?

As we continue our series on Romans 8, there’s some remarkable insight into God’s love. Maybe the evidence has been there all along, but we just didn’t know how to see it. Watch or listen for a time of spiritual refreshment.

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 I Love You This Much [35:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Just how involved is God in the daily affairs of my life? Can I count on God to “fix” everything?

This week we resume our Romans 8 sermon series by studying one of the best-known verses in the Bible: “All things work together for good for those who love God.” Romans 8:28.

This verse (and those around it) raise fascinating questions about free will and predestination. Watch or listen for a practical examination of how God works in the world and our lives.

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 Relax, Everything's Gonna Be OK [36:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

What do you do when it feels like God is far away? Our impulse may be to act like God is far away — but that can lead to actions that are self-destructive.

There’s a better way, and we’ll look at the example of Habakkuk to get some practical ideas.

This sermon was brought to us by our Clergy Intern, Vivian Wyatt.

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 Are You There, God? [22:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

We’ve spent a couple weeks looking at stories surrounding the birth of Christ — it is the season, after all.

This week, something related but maybe not the first thing that comes to mind at Christmastime: What did it really mean for God to become human?

The scriptures say that Jesus “emptied himself” of divine privilege and power while he was in the flesh on earth. That has enormous ramifications for how we see God and how we are able to relate to God. Watch or listen for a message of encouragement and hope.

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 Don't Make Me Come Down There! [35:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Have you ever been told — or felt like it was implied — that Christians can’t feel sad or depressed or angry?

Would it surprise you to know that over a third of the Psalms, most of Job, plus an entire book — Lamentations — are all prayers that express anguish to God?

The writers of those texts were being honest. And they dared to bring their pain, frustration — their lament — directly to God.

This sermon looks at ways to reclaim the power of the prayer of lament. Listen or watch for a lesson that’s practical and life-giving.

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 This Is All Your Fault! [27:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Do you think of yourself as the last person God might choose to do something important or worthwhile in this world?

Well, then, congratulations! As we see from our examples in scripture, that’s exactly the sort of person God chooses.  Strange, huh?

Listen or watch as we examine this counter-intuitive way that God works, and look at ways we can lay aside our doubt and have confidence that God can and will use us.

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 An Unlikely Candidate [30:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

What is “grace”? The Bible says without it we cannot be saved.

This sermon cuts through all the theological mumbo jumbo and gain new insight that could. . . well, save us — in any number of ways.

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 Grace That Flows Like a River [35:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Have you seen the classic Christmas program, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer? If so, you’re familiar with the Island of Misfit Toys, home of the ostrich-riding cowboy and the train with square wheels.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we’re taking a look at a little-examined character from the familiar palm-procession story: the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem. He was a “misfit” too, but was needed by Jesus at this crucial time.

Listen or watch as we look at how we can find our purpose and mission — how we can be needed by God, misfits though we are.

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 Misfits Wanted [38:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Have you ever thought, “I must not be a very good Christian. Everybody else is so together — and I’m just a mess.”

Well, guess what — God knows what a mess we all can be. Listen or watch as we wrestle with the idea that there’s no need to pretend before God, or hold back — we can come as we are.

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 Messy Spirituality [25:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Why does it seem so often that we have no power for living? Why does it seem that we just drag from one day to the next, never really engaging in life? Deacon Robert Ferguson will bring us a message of hope and encouragement.

Robert’s sermon is part of our Black History Celebration Sunday.

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 Powered by God [34:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

We often hear platitudes about the “love of God” — but in this sermon, we’ll get some insight into how that love works.

We take a look at the familiar story of “The Prodigal Son”, and find that it tells us a lot more about God (as demonstrated by the father in the story) than it does about the son.

This sermon was presented by Deb Doty, Jesus MCC’s Director of Discipleship.

 

 The Prodigal Father [38:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup