Grow Deeper

Life can quickly become overwhelming. When we let ourselves get distracted it is easy to loose our focus on Jesus. Jesus came out to his disciples in a storm, walking on water to the boat they were huddled in fear. Peter asked Jesus to command him to walk on the water as well. Peter stepped out of the boat to meet Jesus. But, when he lost his focus on Jesus, Peter began to sink. Rev. Stanley Davidson inspires us to keep our focus on Jesus.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 14:22-33

"Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus" – S03E9 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#walkingonwater #Epiphany #keepyoureyesonjesus

When Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth they were deeply divided. If we are honest with ourselves we find ourselves in a society that is deeply divided. These words from Paul are meant to remind the local church what unites them, and why it is much more powerful than anything that could divide them.

Sermon Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

"Apollos? Paul? Or Christ?" – S03E8 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#Apollos #Paul #Christ #division #christianunity

We see in this passage Jesus beginning his ministry. But, if we stop and think about it, it’s kind of an awkward way to begin. It begins in sorrow, as John the Baptizer has been arrested. He begins by simply calling ordinary people by just walking up to them and inviting them. Today Jesus still calls ordinary people. Today, Jesus’ ministry continues.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 4:12-23

"The Beginning" – S03E7 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#thebeginning #Epiphany #calling

As we look at one of four servant songs that we find in book Isaiah, we remember that there are servants still among us today. Our job on Sundays like this is to remember that we are all called by God to be servants. To be people that are working to build up his Kingdom. Sometimes all we can do is listen for the call, work through the doubt, and embrace the vision that we receive from God.

Sermon Scripture Text: Isaiah 49:1-7

"The Servant" – S03E6 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#servant #ServantSong

Today we hear the cry of John the Baptizer concerning Jesus: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does that mean? How does Jesus take away the sin of the world? Of course, by his atoning death on the cross and the glorious resurrection, but it is more than that. Jesus came and lived among us and is coming again. Christmas, Lent, and Easter all fit together, and we could not have one without the other.

Sermon Scripture Text: John 1:29-42

"The Lamb of God" – S03E5 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#LambOfGod #Epiphany

At our baptisms we are reminded of who we are, specifically we are reminded of the name that God has given us, even though we don't deserve it and couldn't earn it. A beloved child of God. It is actually the name that Jesus is given as his baptism as well. Join us this week as we reflect on the importance of names, and remember what it is that God has named us.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 3:13-17

"Beloved" – S03E4 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#baptism #jordanriver #baptismofthelord

This Sunday is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. We remember Jesus’ baptism and remember our own. We reaffirm our vows and consider the commitment we have made as followers of Christ. We also wrestle with a question: If we are baptized because Jesus was baptized, then what does that mean? How do our understandings of baptism align with who Jesus is? In this sermon we will explore what we believe about baptism and why.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 3:13-17

"Why Was Jesus Baptized?" – S03E3 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#BaptismOfTheLord #baptism

"At the start of every new year we ask a version of this question, "How should I spend my time this year?" Though the list of meaningful things we could spend our time on feels never ending, the answer that we find in Scripture is really pretty simple. Join us this week as we consider what it is that Jesus calls us to spend our time on as people who seek to walk with Him."

Sermon Scripture Text: 2 Kings 20:1-7

"How Should I Spend My Time?" – S03E2 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#epiphany #howshouldispendmytime

Epiphany is when we celebrate the visit of the Magi to Jesus and ends the season of Christmas. We reflect on the gifts that they bring. Each gift is something more than the sum of its parts. Each gift symbolically represents to us to something about who the Christ-child is: gold as in tribute to a King; frankincense as is burned on the altar of incense at the Temple in worship of God; myrrh as a powerful perfume used in the burial of the dead. This begs the question for us, what is the perfect gift we can offer?

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 2:1-12

"What Shall I Give Him" – S03E1 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#WhatShallIGiveHim #magi #epiphany #ThePerfectGift

Sometimes things do not go according to plan. Even when we are not prepared, Christ is born anyway. Whatever has happened in your life during the Advent season, Christ has come for you this Christmas. In the Christ Child: love is born, hope is born, joy is born, redemption is born for us!.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-20

"Christ Is Born Anyway" – S02E100 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Kevin Payne and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons, and occasion guest preachers, on the podcast to inspire and encourage you to grow in faith and in life. We're glad you've joined us on this journey.

#ChristIsBorn #ChristmasEve #hope #joy #love #redemption