First United Methodist Church of Kearney Sermons

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.

🚴 Who’s pulling for you? And who are you pulling for?

Cyclists know the power of the peloton. Riding together means sharing the burden, conserving energy, and going farther than you could alone.

The same is true in our faith.

"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." – Proverbs 13:20

God never intended us to follow Jesus alone. We grow when we surround ourselves with people who encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and help us become more like Christ.

This Sunday we'll discover why the people you ride through life with matter more than you think—and how God uses community to shape our faith.

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Pedaling Proverbs series.

🚴‍♂️ It Never Gets Easier. You Just Get Faster.

When life gets hard, it's easy to wonder why the road still feels uphill. Shouldn't experience make things easier? Shouldn't faith remove the challenges?

This Sunday we'll begin our new series, Pedaling Proverbs, by exploring a surprising truth from the book of Proverbs: wisdom isn't about arriving—it's about continuing to grow.

Just as cyclists become stronger through miles of effort, followers of Jesus grow stronger through a lifetime of trusting God, learning, and pressing forward.

Join us as we discover why the goal isn't an easier life, but a stronger faith.

What happens when faith becomes more than a checklist?

This Sunday, we'll explore the story of the woman at the well and discover a simple but life-changing truth: spending time with Jesus changes us. When we move beyond merely knowing about Jesus and begin truly knowing Him, shame gives way to freedom, faith becomes personal, and our lives become a testimony to others.

Join us this Sunday as we learn what it means to abide in Christ and experience the transformation that comes from simply being with Him.

What if we looked at faith through the eyes of a child—trusting, loving, forgiving? This Sunday's message reminds us of the one constant we can always count on: Jesus did, He does, and He always will love us.

Jesus didn't come to impress the world with power and glory. He humbled Himself, became human, walked among us, and died on a cross—all because He loved us too much to leave us broken and lost. Philippians 2:1-11 shows us that Christ's love wasn't just words—it was action. He washed His disciples' feet and calls us to do the same.

Here's the challenge: Love isn't just something we talk about. We have to live it. Get your hands dirty. Meet people where they are. Show them the love Christ showed us. Because the moments that take our breath away are the moments we share His love with others.

Even when you can't feel His presence, trust this truth—Jesus loves you. He did. He does. He always will.

Most of us want to make a difference… but we keep waiting for the perfect moment, more time, or better qualifications.

This Sunday we’re talking about the story of the Good Samaritan and a simple truth we often forget: God is not asking you to do everything — He’s asking you to faithfully do something.

The Kingdom grows when ordinary people take small faithful steps.

Join us this Sunday as we discover what it looks like to “get off our donkey,” love the person in front of us, and participate in what God is already doing. Luke 10:25–37

Today we conclude our “Throwback” series by stepping back and seeing the big picture of scripture: from the garden, to the temple, to Jesus, to the promise of a new heaven and new earth, the story of the Bible is the story of God drawing closer to people.

If you’ve ever found yourself asking “How long, O Lord?” or struggling with waiting, suffering, or uncertainty, this message is for you. Revelation 21 reminds us that one day every wrong will be made right and God will dwell with His people forever.

What if your relationship with God wasn’t based on your performance? This Sunday in Throwback, we’re looking at the “new covenant” Jesus introduces in Matthew 26:26-28. So many areas of life operate on performance, penalties, and proving ourselves worthy — but Jesus came to offer something radically different: acceptance through grace. Join us as we explore how all the promises of the Old Testament ultimately point to Christ and the good news that we don’t have to earn what God freely gives.

The Apostle Paul's simple command in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 challenges us to "encourage one another and build each other up." But here's the reality—we're great at thinking kind thoughts about people, yet terrible at actually expressing them. We assume people know how we feel, but they don't. God knows our hearts, but people need to hear our words.

The solution? Notice. Encourage. Repeat. Whether it's writing a note, leaving a positive review, or simply saying "thank you," these small acts of intentional encouragement can transform someone's week. The longer we're used to something, the less we appreciate it. So pause today and tell someone what you notice and value about them.

Being a light in 2026 doesn't require grand gestures—just consistent kindness in a world starving for it.

David wasn't the people's choice; he was God's choice. He wasn't perfect, tall, or powerful, but he was faithful. God uses imperfect people who trust Him. You don't need to be perfect to be used by God; you need to be faithful.