First United Methodist Church of Kearney Sermons

Is it okay for Christians to be cremated? 🤔

This Sunday we’re talking about one of the most frequently asked — and often avoided — questions surrounding death, funerals, and the hope of resurrection. In John 11, Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb and reminds us that He is “the resurrection and the life.”

Together we’ll explore the difference between resuscitation and resurrection, why our ultimate hope isn’t in what happens to our earthly bodies, and how the promise of new life in Christ changes the way we grieve, plan, and live today.

If you’ve ever wondered how faith speaks into end-of-life questions — or if you just need a reminder of real hope — this message is for you.

Join us this Sunday!

Reconciliation means the relationship is restored. Through Christ, we've moved from enemies to beloved children. But reconciliation isn't just a status—it's a lifestyle. Having been reconciled to God, we're now called to live as ambassadors of reconciliation in a broken world. This is the journey of sanctification, where we increasingly reflect God's character not to earn His love, but because we've received it. We pursue holiness from security, not insecurity. We serve from fullness, not emptiness. As you close this devotional series, commit to one specific way you'll live differently this week because of God's pre-approval. Let your actions flow from acceptance, not toward it. You are already His beloved. Now live like it.

Jesus couldn't be everywhere at once, and neither can you. The anxiety of "being there for people" fades when we ask: "What is mine to do?" Don't be lazy, but embrace your limits. You're human-sized, not God-sized. Do what you can—that's enough.

When you don’t know what to do next, the pressure to “have the answer” can leave you feeling exposed, anxious, and stuck. This Sunday we’ll look at Gideon’s story in Judges 6 and discover how God meets us not in our certainty, but in our doubts and small steps of trust. What if, instead of needing all the answers, faith looks like giving God something to work with? Join us as we explore what it means to be human-sized and trust a God who already knows the way.

Perfection can be exhausting—and if we’re honest, it’s often the loudest voice in our heads. This Sunday, Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48 invite us into something deeper than flawless performance: a life that is growing, maturing, and being shaped by God’s grace. What if God isn’t asking you to be perfect, but to become who you were created to be? Join us as we learn to pursue our potential, not perfection.

Feeling like life is slipping out of your control? In our new series New Years’ Dissolutions, we begin by tackling one of the biggest sources of anxiety: control — and learning what it means to truly trust a sovereign God while taking responsibility for what’s in our hands. Drawing from 2 Chronicles 20 and practical wisdom, this message invites us to release our grip on what we can’t manage and rediscover peace, faith, and freedom for the year ahead.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.”

This Sunday we’re talking vision, direction, and discipleship—rooted in Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28).

New year. Clear purpose. One mission.

📍 Vision Sunday — don’t miss it.

The shepherds returned to ordinary life—but were forever changed by meeting Jesus. Christmas isn't just a moment; it's a transformation. Keep Jesus first, others second, yourself third. Your life may look the same, but you are completely different.

This Christmas Eve, we’ll be searching for the missing peace—the kind of peace that doesn’t always make sense on paper. In a season full of joy and stress, we’re reminded that Jesus didn’t come to remove every hardship, but to be God with us in the middle of them. Join us as we discover how true peace is found not in perfect circumstances, but in the presence of Christ. Come celebrate the good news of great joy with us on Christmas Eve.

Feeling stuck between fear and uncertainty? This Sunday we’ll explore how Jesus meets the disciples behind locked doors with a gift we all need—peace that isn’t dependent on circumstances. From liminal seasons to big decisions, discover how God invites us to trade anxiety for discernment and learn what it means to walk by the Spirit when the way forward isn’t clear. When you’re going in blind, you’re not going alone.