Church On The Path

What does it mean to actually live out your Christian faith? Is following Jesus about what we believe and say—or about what we do with what we believe?

In this episode of The Church on the Path Podcast, Pastor Brent explores Jesus’ Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:23–32 and a simple but challenging truth:

Faith is more than what we say. Faith is what we do.

Jesus tells of a father who asks two sons to work in his vineyard. The first says no—but changes his mind and goes. The second gives the perfect answer, “I will, sir,” but never shows up.

Jesus asks: Which one actually did the will of the father?

The question isn’t who sounded more faithful, knew the right religious vocabulary, or made the better first impression. The question is who actually responded.

Or, as Pastor Brent asks:

Has our yes reached our feet yet?

This week’s message follows the testimony of members of our youth ministry who served at Salkehatchie, repairing homes for neighbors who could not afford the work or could no longer do it themselves. They didn’t simply talk about loving their neighbors. They picked up tools. They climbed ladders. They sweated. They served.

Love put on work gloves.

That’s what it looks like when grace becomes action.

Drawing from Philippians 2:1–13, Pastor Brent reminds us that Jesus Himself is our model. Christ didn’t love humanity with words alone. He humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient even to the cross.

Love put on flesh.

We don’t work for salvation as though God’s grace could be earned. We work it out because God is already at work within us. Grace isn’t opposed to action. Grace produces action. God works in us, and then God works through us.

And you don’t have to travel to a Salkehatchie worksite to find your vineyard.

Your vineyard may be a lonely person who needs someone beside them. A child who needs a reading buddy. A hungry family that needs food. A neighbor who needs help. An apology you’ve promised but haven’t offered. A phone call you keep meaning to make. A ministry you believe somebody ought to support.

Sometimes our greatest spiritual problem isn’t that we don’t know what Jesus asks of us. It’s that we substitute good intentions for faithful obedience.

We can’t do everything—but that cannot become our excuse for doing nothing.

So ask yourself:

What is the one thing God is asking me to do?

The world doesn’t need a Church that merely talks about love. It needs a Church that shows up, gets its hands dirty, notices the forgotten, serves without seeking applause, and loves people in practical ways.

It needs a Church on the Path.

Because grace means our first answer doesn’t have to be our final answer. We can change our minds. We can change direction. We can take the next faithful step.

Jesus isn’t asking for polished promises.

He’s asking for surrendered lives.

Faith is more than what we say.

Faith is what we do.

It’s time to Walk the Talk.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 21:23–32; Philippians 2:1–13

Keywords: Walk the Talk, Matthew 21:23–32, Parable of the Two Sons, Philippians 2:1–13, living out Christian faith, faith and works, Christian service, obedience to God, what does it mean to follow Jesus, putting faith into action, grace and good works, mind of Christ, Christian discipleship, serving your neighbor, Salkehatchie, youth mission trip, practical Christianity, United Methodist Church, Christian podcast, Charleston SC church, St Andrews Parish UMC, The Church on the Path.

Why does God give grace to people who don’t seem to deserve it? And why can it be so difficult to celebrate when God is generous to someone else?

In this episode of The Church on the Path Podcast, Pastor Brent explores Jesus’ surprising Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard from Matthew 20:1–16—a story that challenges our assumptions about fairness, deserving, comparison, and the extravagant grace of God.

A landowner hires workers throughout the day—some early in the morning, others at noon, some late in the afternoon, and a final group with only an hour left to work. At the end of the day, everyone receives the same wage.

And the workers who had been there all day respond exactly as many of us probably would:

“That’s not fair!”

But Jesus isn’t primarily teaching about payroll. He’s teaching about grace.

The first workers weren’t cheated. They received exactly what they had been promised. Their anger began when they saw generosity being extended to somebody else. They were satisfied with their blessing until they compared it with another person’s blessing.

That leads to the question at the heart of this message:

Can we celebrate when God is generous to someone else?

Jesus reveals a Kingdom that doesn’t operate according to our spiritual timecards. We cannot place God in our debt through years of service, sacrifice, generosity, or religious faithfulness.

Grace is not merely fair. Grace is more than fair.

The landowner keeps returning to the marketplace—at nine, noon, three, and even five o’clock—because he keeps looking, calling, inviting, and making room.

That’s good news for anyone who has ever wondered if they waited too long, wandered too far, made too many mistakes, or missed their opportunity with God.

God keeps going out.

There is no hour when God stops seeking people, and there is no past so broken that Jesus says, “There is no place for you.”

This message also challenges longtime Christians to examine the danger of comparison. Another person’s blessing doesn’t diminish ours. A newcomer isn’t a threat. Someone else’s second chance doesn’t take ours away. And years of faithful service don’t give any of us ownership of the vineyard.

The Church belongs to Jesus Christ.

We are all here because the Landowner came looking for us. We are here because Jesus called our names. We are here because grace found us.

At the cross, Jesus didn’t come to pay us what we had earned. He came to give us what we could never earn: forgiveness, reconciliation, new life, and a place in the Kingdom of God.

So how do we live this kind of grace?

Practice gratitude before comparison.

And if you’ve been standing at the edge of the vineyard wondering whether there is still room for you, hear the good news:

Jesus is still calling.

Because God’s Kingdom is more than fair.

It is generous.

Grace is not merely fair. Grace is more than fair.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 20:1–16

Keywords: Matthew 20:1–16, laborers in the vineyard, workers in the vineyard parable, generosity of God, God’s grace, why is God unfair, fairness and grace, undeserved grace, Christian comparison, jealousy and envy, God’s generosity, second chances, grace for everyone, kingdom of God, Christian discipleship, Jesus parables, United Methodist sermon, Wesleyan grace, Christian podcast, Charleston SC church, St Andrews Parish UMC, The Church on the Path.

How many times does Jesus expect us to forgive someone—especially when they keep hurting us, never apologize, or don’t seem sorry?

In this episode of The Church on the Path Podcast, Pastor Brent explores one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings: forgiveness.

Peter asks Jesus a question many of us have asked in one form or another: “Lord, how often should I forgive?” Peter suggests seven times, but Jesus responds, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus isn’t giving Peter a bigger number to track. He’s telling him to put away the calculator. Forgiveness isn’t an accounting system; it is meant to become a way of life for people who have received the mercy of God.

Through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus tells of a man released from an impossible debt who then refuses to show mercy to someone who owes him far less. The message is uncomfortable but powerful: grace received is meant to become grace extended. We can be forgiven people who have not yet learned how to become forgiving people.

But what does biblical forgiveness actually mean?

Forgiveness does not mean pretending the wound didn’t matter. It doesn’t eliminate accountability, automatically restore trust, or require someone to return to an abusive or dangerous relationship. Forgiveness and reconciliation are connected, but they are not identical. Reconciliation requires repentance, truth, change, and the rebuilding of trust. Forgiveness means releasing our claim to revenge and placing the person, the wound, and our desire for justice into the hands of God.

And sometimes forgiveness isn’t accomplished in one dramatic moment.

Sometimes the pain comes back.

So how many times should we forgive?

As many times as the pain returns.

Forgiveness can become a daily act of discipleship because God’s grace meets us again and again.

Drawing also from Israel’s journey through the Red Sea, Pastor Brent offers a powerful picture of forgiveness as walking out of bondage and toward freedom. Forgiveness doesn’t mean returning to Egypt and pretending slavery was acceptable. It means refusing to allow what happened in the past to keep controlling our future.

The person who hurt you may never apologize. They may never understand what they did. They may never repair what they broke.

But through the grace of God, they do not get to determine whether you walk free.

What stone have you carried long enough?

Jesus isn’t shaming us for being wounded. Jesus is inviting us into freedom.

We forgive because we have been forgiven.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 18:21–35; Romans 14:1–12; Exodus 14:19–31

Keywords: How many times should I forgive, Matthew 18:21–35, seventy times seven, seventy-seven times, Jesus on forgiveness, Christian forgiveness, forgiving someone who isn’t sorry, forgiveness without reconciliation, forgiveness and boundaries, letting go of resentment, overcoming bitterness, unforgiving servant, biblical forgiveness, grace and mercy, Christian discipleship, Christian podcast, United Methodist sermon, Charleston SC church, St Andrews Parish UMC, The Church on the Path.

What does Jesus say we should do when someone hurts us? How should Christians handle conflict, forgiveness, and broken relationships?

Pastor Brent is back in the pulpit at St. Andrews Parish UMC – The Church on the Path this week with a message about something everyone of us experiences: conflict.

In Matthew 18:15–20, Jesus gives His followers a radically different way of responding when relationships are wounded. Instead of gossiping, humiliating, recruiting people to our side, holding grudges, or simply walking away, Jesus tells us to go directly to one another and seek restoration.

Why?

Because love does not walk away.

Drawing from Jesus’ teaching and Paul’s words in Romans 13:8–14, Pastor Brent explores what it means to truly speak the truth in love. Biblical love—agapē—isn’t simply being nice or avoiding difficult conversations. Christian love listens. Love forgives. Love tells the truth. Love establishes healthy boundaries. And love continues to hope for redemption, healing, and transformation.

Jesus teaches that the goal of Christian conflict isn’t winning an argument.

The goal is restoration.

The world teaches us to win by defeating someone. Jesus teaches us to win by regaining a brother or sister. Truth without love can become a weapon, while love without truth can become avoidance. But when grace and truth walk together, reconciliation becomes possible.

This message also takes a fresh look at one of Jesus’ most familiar promises: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” In its original context, Jesus is talking about conflict, accountability, and reconciliation. When two people sit down for a difficult but loving conversation, when someone admits, “I was wrong,” when forgiveness begins, and when broken relationships move toward healing—Jesus is there.

And as we gather at the Communion table, we remember the ultimate example of a love that refused to walk away. When humanity wandered, failed, and sinned, God did not walk away from us. In Jesus Christ, God bore the cost and made a way home.

So whom do you need to talk to?

Whom do you need to forgive?

Is there a difficult truth you need to speak with love?

Is there a relationship where you’ve been more interested in being right than being reconciled?

Jesus offers us another way.

Love listens.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 18:15–20; Romans 13:8–14

Keywords: Speaking the Truth in Love, Matthew 18:15–20, Romans 13:8–14, Christian conflict resolution, what does Jesus say about conflict, how Christians should handle disagreements, forgiveness and reconciliation, difficult conversations, biblical forgiveness, broken relationships, Christian boundaries, where two or three are gathered, put on Christ, agape love, Christian relationships, Holy Communion, United Methodist sermon, Christian podcast, Charleston SC church, St Andrews Parish UMC, The Church on the Path.

What does it mean to pass our faith to the next generation—and what kind of Church are we handing them?

This week’s episode of The Church on the Path Podcast is a special one. Rev. Brent Dehlbom and Rev. Ray Gibbs exchanged pulpits for the day as an intentional expression of our United Methodist connection.

Pastor Brent, a white pastor serving a historically white congregation, and Pastor Ray, a Black pastor serving a historically Black congregation, stepped into one another’s pulpits—not pretending that the histories and experiences of our congregations are the same, but affirming something deeper: in Jesus Christ, we belong to one another.

Our churches may worship in different places and serve different communities, but we share one Gospel, one mission, and one calling to carry the love of Christ into the world. Sometimes living into that connection begins with something as simple—and as meaningful—as making room for one another, listening to one another, and trusting one another enough to exchange pulpits.

In this message, “Pass the Torch to the Next Generation,” Rev. Ray Gibbs draws from Matthew 16:21–28 and Psalm 71:17–21 as we consider the responsibility of one generation to faithfully share the story of God’s grace with the next.

Psalm 71 declares, “O God, from my youth you have taught me,” and then looks toward the generations still to come. Christian faith was never meant to stop with us. We receive the Gospel, live the Gospel, and pass the Gospel forward.

And perhaps one of the most important things we can pass to the next generation is a Church willing to cross boundaries, build relationships, listen to one another, and demonstrate that our unity in Christ can be stronger than the things that have historically divided us.

What kind of Church will we hand to those who come after us?

May it be one rooted deeply in Jesus Christ, courageous enough to take up the cross, generous enough to make room for one another, and faithful enough to pass the torch.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 16:21–28; Psalm 71:17–21

Keywords: Pass the Torch to the Next Generation, Matthew 16:21–28, Psalm 71, Christian generations, passing on faith, next generation church, Christian discipleship, take up your cross, United Methodist connection, pulpit exchange, racial reconciliation, church unity, Black church, white church, Christian unity, intergenerational ministry, United Methodist Church, Charleston SC, The Church on the Path.

Can you follow Jesus even when you still have questions, doubts, and uncertainty?

In this episode of The Church on the Path Podcast, Pastor Brent explores Jesus’ deeply personal question to His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” But Peter’s confession doesn’t mean he suddenly understands everything. In fact, he will continue to question, misunderstand, fail, and grow. His story reminds us that Christian faith is not certainty about everything—faith is knowing whom we trust when we don’t understand.

Drawing from Matthew 16:13–20, along with Peter’s powerful question in John’s Gospel—“Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life”—this message explores the difference between simply believing things about Jesus and actually building our lives around Him.

Faith is more than an answer. Faith is a confession.

It’s saying:

“Jesus, I don’t understand everything, but I trust You.”

“I can’t see the whole journey, but I will follow You.”

“I still have questions, but I know where I will take them.”

This message also explores what Jesus means when He says, “I will build my church.” The Church isn’t built on perfect people who have everything figured out. It is a family being transformed by grace—people with different gifts, experiences, questions, and even failures who are united by one confession: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

So when the road becomes difficult, when our questions outnumber our answers, when we fail and need grace, or when we simply cannot see what comes next:

To whom shall we go?

We go to Jesus.

Not because we understand everything.

We go because He has the words of eternal life.

The Church on the Path

Scripture: Matthew 16:13–20

Keywords: Matthew 16:13–20, who do you say that I am, To Whom Shall We Go, Peter’s confession, Jesus the Messiah, Christian faith and doubt, questions about faith, trusting Jesus, Christian discipleship, Jesus builds His Church, faith and uncertainty, Christian podcast, sermon podcast, Wesleyan theology, United Methodist Church, The Church on the Path.

What can a desperate mother teach us about faith, wisdom, and the heart of God?

In this week’s episode of The Church on the Path, Pastor Brent explores one of the most surprising and challenging encounters in the Gospels: Jesus’ conversation with the Canaanite woman. At first glance, this passage raises difficult questions. But as the story unfolds, it reveals a profound truth about persistent faith, humble listening, and the limitless mercy of God.

The Canaanite woman refuses to give up, even when faced with silence, misunderstanding, and rejection. Her courageous faith reminds us that wisdom often comes from unexpected voices, and that God’s grace is always greater than the boundaries we create. Jesus praises her faith and, in doing so, challenges His disciples—and us—to see people through the eyes of compassion rather than exclusion.

This message explores what it means to listen before we judge, to approach others with humility instead of certainty, and to trust that God’s mercy is always making room for more people at the table. Whether you’ve wrestled with unanswered prayers, questioned where you belong, or wondered how Christians can faithfully navigate a divided world, this sermon offers hope rooted in the character of Jesus Christ.

You’ll discover why great faith isn’t having all the answers—it’s refusing to let go of the mercy of God.

Join us as we learn three timeless lessons for every disciple:

Because wisdom doesn’t always come from where we expect it—and there is always more than enough grace at Christ’s table.

Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28

Keywords: Matthew 15, Canaanite woman, persistent faith, wisdom for the journey, Jesus and the Canaanite woman, unanswered prayer, Christian discipleship, God’s mercy, grace, inclusion, listening with compassion, humility, Christian podcast, Wesleyan theology, United Methodist Church, The Church on the Path.

The Church on the Path Worship + Service = Discipleship Love First…Love Always

Where is God when life feels overwhelming?

In this week's episode of The Church on the Path, Pastor Brent explores one of the most comforting stories in the Gospels—Jesus walking on the water to meet His frightened disciples in the middle of a storm. As Peter steps out of the boat in faith, we are reminded that following Jesus does not mean we will avoid life's storms. It means we will never face them alone.

Whether you're carrying the weight of a difficult diagnosis, a struggling relationship, financial uncertainty, grief, anxiety, or simply the challenges of everyday life, this message offers a powerful reminder that fear is not the absence of faith. Faith is taking the next step toward Jesus, even when the wind is still blowing.

Recorded on Back to Church Sunday, this message also celebrates the blessing of backpacks for students, teachers, and school staff, along with the graduation of Disciple Bible Study participants. Together, these moments remind us that discipleship is not about staying where it is safe—it's about trusting Christ enough to follow Him wherever He leads.

If you've ever wondered whether God has forgotten you in the middle of your storm, listen again to the words of Jesus:

"Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid."

Because the storm is only terrifying when we believe we are facing it alone. The good news of the Gospel is this: Jesus is already in the storm with us. His grace is greater than our fear, His hand is stronger than our grip, and even our simplest prayer—"Lord, save me"—is enough for Him to reach out and hold us fast.

Scripture: Matthew 14:22–33

Keywords: Matthew 14, Jesus walks on water, Peter walks on water, faith in difficult times, Christian encouragement, overcoming fear, trusting God, storms of life, Back to Church Sunday, blessing of the backpacks, discipleship, Bible study, United Methodist Church, Charleston SC, The Church on the Path.

The Church on the Path

What are you truly hungry for?

In this week's episode of The Church on the Path, Pastor Brent explores one of Jesus' most beloved miracles—the feeding of the five thousand—and uncovers the deeper hunger it reveals in every human heart. While the crowd came looking for bread, Jesus offered something far greater: Himself, the Bread of Life.

As Jesus grieves the death of John the Baptist, He is interrupted by a crowd in need. Instead of turning them away, He responds with compassion, healing their brokenness and feeding their hunger. Through this powerful Gospel story, we discover that Jesus doesn't simply see the crowds—He sees people. He sees our grief, our fears, our loneliness, our questions, and the deepest longings of our hearts before we ever speak them aloud.

This message challenges us to move beyond a mindset of scarcity and into the abundance of God's Kingdom. Like the disciples, we often believe what we have is too little to make a difference. But Jesus doesn't ask us to bring what we don't have. He simply says, "Bring it to me." When we place our gifts, our time, our compassion, and even our limitations into His hands, He transforms them into more than enough.

Whether you're searching for hope, purpose, healing, forgiveness, or a place to belong, this message reminds us that the deepest hunger of the human soul is ultimately satisfied in Christ alone. And having been fed by His grace, we are sent into the world to carry that Bread of Life to others.

Join us as we discover why there is always room at Christ's table, why God's grace is always abundant, and why the Bread that Jesus offers is the only bread that truly lasts.

Scripture: Matthew 14:13–21

Keywords: Bread of Life, Feeding the Five Thousand, Matthew 14, Christian podcast, Jesus feeds the hungry, compassion of Jesus, Holy Communion, abundance of God, faith, discipleship, United Methodist, sermon, Charleston church, The Church on the Path.

The Church on the Path

In this episode of The Church on The Path Podcast, Rev. Brent Dehlbom explores the power of our words through Ephesians 4:25–32 and Luke 7:36–50. At Simon the Pharisee’s table, one woman is reduced to a label—but Jesus truly sees her. Simon speaks judgment; Jesus speaks forgiveness, dignity, peace, and new life.

Speaking life does not mean ignoring sin, avoiding difficult conversations, or offering empty compliments. It means telling the truth in love—using our words to restore rather than destroy and leaving the door open for healing, grace, and redemption.

In a culture filled with anger, mockery, shame, and division, followers of Jesus are called to sound like Jesus. Who needs you to speak life this week? Someone may need to hear:

“You are still loved.”

“You are not alone.”

“Your failure is not final.”

“God is not finished with you yet.”

Before you post, text, repeat, or respond, ask: Does this sound like Jesus? Will these words give grace to those who hear?

The world has enough voices speaking fear, shame, division, and despair. Speak courage. Speak grace. Speak unity. Speak hope. Speak Jesus. Church—speak life.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25–32; Luke 7:36–50