First United Methodist Church of Kearney Sermons

No storm is too big for Jesus to speak peace into. In the midst of your storms, Jesus is already on the boat with you. He was not worried then, and he is not worried now. Trust the one who commands even the wind and waves.

When we’re mistreated, it’s easy to match someone else’s anger, insults, or intensity. But what if we could develop the habit of responding instead of reacting? This Sunday, as we conclude Atomic Habits, we’ll look at how God can shape not just the words we say, but the hearts those words reveal.

We love convenience. Grocery pickup. Amazon Prime. Food delivered right to our door. We’ll even pay extra just to make life a little easier.

But some of the most important things in life aren’t convenient.

Community takes effort. It means making room in the schedule, showing up when we’d rather stay home, being vulnerable, and sometimes carrying someone else’s burden. But it also means having people there to help carry ours.

This Sunday we continue Atomic Habits and talk about one of the most important habits we can build: community.

The price of community is inconvenience—and it’s worth it.

We’re really good at working. But how good are we at resting?

This Sunday, we continue our Atomic Habits series by looking at one of the oldest habits God gave his people: Sabbath.

In a culture that tells us to do more, produce more, and stay constantly connected, Sabbath reminds us that our worth isn’t determined by what we accomplish. It’s preventative maintenance for the soul—a regular rhythm of stopping, resting, and making room for the things that give us life.

Join us Sunday as we discover how small changes can help us build a habit of Sabbath.

We all need to work on rest.

Change is hard. But maybe that's because we're aiming at the wrong thing.

This Sunday we kick off a brand-new series called Atomic Habits. Together we'll explore what the Bible has to say about lasting change and why transformation begins with our identity—not just our behavior.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." What if that verse isn't about getting everything we want, but about God changing what we want in the first place?

Join us this Sunday at 8, 9, 10, or 11am as we discover how God invites us to become the people He created us to be.

Have you ever received an invitation that changed your life?

In John 1, we see a simple pattern repeated again and again: one person invites another to "come and see." Andrew invites Peter. Philip invites Nathanael. Ordinary people extend ordinary invitations—and God does extraordinary things.

That's still how God works today.

Sometimes we hesitate because we're afraid of rejection or feel like we don't have all the answers. But our job isn't to change hearts. Our job is simply to provide opportunities.

Who is on your "St. Andrew's List"? Who in your life could use a simple invitation to sit with you at church, grab coffee, or begin a conversation about faith?

You never know what one invitation can lead to.

"The closer we grow to God, the better we love others." Staying in love with God takes intentional effort — just like any relationship. Seek God daily. Reflect His love into the world.

Disagreement doesn't require harm. The Good Samaritan showed us that loving our neighbor means caring for those we disagree with most. As Christians, we're called to be different, known by our love, not our arguments. Do no harm. Love your neighbor.

Disagreement doesn't require harm. The Good Samaritan showed us that loving our neighbor means caring for those we disagree with most. As Christians, we're called to be different, known by our love, not our arguments. Do no harm. Love your neighbor.

Who is shaping the way you think?

We live in a world overflowing with opinions, podcasts, posts, influencers, and advice. But Proverbs reminds us that not every voice deserves equal influence.

This Sunday we'll wrap up our Pedaling Proverbs series by exploring the difference between the wise, the foolish, and the evil—and asking a challenging question:

Who are you allowing to influence your life?

"The wise listen to advice." – Proverbs 12:15

Join us as we discover how to become people who welcome truth, grow through correction, and learn to recognize the voices worth following.