First United Methodist Church of Kearney Sermons

How can the Holy Spirit work in my life? (hearing from God)

Pastor Mitch talks to us about the story of Peter and Jesus' ability to help us change.

Jesus had been resurrected and reappeared- but not everyone beleived. Doubt is not the enemy of faith and we'll explore reasons we have to doubt and reassurances that our faith is secure.

Baptism and Confirmation Sunday

Easter!!!

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem just as the week-long festival of Passover was about to begin. The city's population swelled to more than 200,000 as visitors came to the Holy City to celebrate Israel's defining story - how God had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. As Jesus arrived, the crowds yelled "Hosanna!" By the end of the week, they yelled "Crucify him!"

One of the best ways to chart our spiritual progress is when we pass on what we have received to someone else. In this way the cycle begins again. It will be difficult to get "new" disciples without people courageously stepping up into leading other disciples themselves. This is the model of the New Testament: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2. A disciple does for others what was done for them.

As we grow in our discipleship we begin to view our resources as not only belonging to us. We sow in God's Kingdom generously and cheerfully with the recognition that God has blessed us in order to bless others.

Forgiveness does not mean that disciples pretend nothing ever happened. Forgiveness is also different from reconciliation. A major growth in our discipleship journey is obedience to Colossians 3:13 which says "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Psalm 37:4 famously says "Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." There may be no simpler way to define growing in Christian maturity as learning to desire the things God delights in. Our "sanctification" or growth in posessing the mind of Christ and walking as he walked is summarized by John 3:30 "He must increase, I must decrease."