Grow Deeper

At some point in our lives most of us will find ourselves in a moment where we pray, "God, hold me together." We don't know how we are going to make it through the challenges in our life. On Christmas we celebrate a God who comes down to us in the middle of everything happening in our lives and brings us the grace, love, and redemption we need.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-20

"You're Invited" – S02E99 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.

#YouAreInvited #ChristmasEve

This week leading up to Christmas is when the rubber hits the road for our faith journey though this season of Advent. As we read and reflect on the story of Ahaz, and remember the story of Joseph, we have a choice to make. What are we going to believe in? What are we going to place our trust in? Our plan? Our power? Our wisdom? Or will we trust, will we believe, in this sign from God proving to us that he is with us.

Sermon Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:10-16

"Coming Home to Love" – S02E98 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.

#cominghome #love #Isaiah #Advent

We have to understand that scripture was not originally written in modern English. As such, there are times when words from ancient Greek are mistranslated. This is the issue in this passage. The word that has been translated as “inn” is actually the Gk. word “kataluma” which is a guest room, not a hotel. The beauty of the message of this passage has nothing to do with an innkeeper (in fact, there isn’t even a innkeeper mentioned!) Rather, it is a promise that even if the best we have to offer is a stable in the back yard, then God will take it and do something amazing with it in grace.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-7

"There is Always Room" – S02E97 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.

#ThereIsAlwaysRoom #Advent

The prophet Isaiah tells us "The wilderness shall rejoice," a message of hope to a people who desperately need it. This week in worship we meditated on what it might look like for us as a people of faith to come home to joy this season of Advent. After all, one day we too will rejoice in the coming of our King.

Sermon Scripture Text: Isaiah 35:1-10

"Coming Home to Joy" – S02E96 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.

#cominghome #joy #Isaiah #Advent

"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse..." (Isaiah 11:1). These words have offered hope to communities of faith for the last 2 thousand years, and nothing has changed. Join us as we explore what this promise has meant to faithful people over the course of history, and what these words of hope fill us with today. May we be a people of hope

Sermon Scripture Text: Isaiah 11:1-10

"Coming Home to Hope" – S02E95 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.

#cominghome #hope #journey #advent

The Christmas season fills us with images of warm homecomings, full of family and fellowship. But, coming home can be difficult. In our passage today Joseph is journeying back to his hometown because of a Roman decree with Mary, his espoused. It is an arduous journey, and not exactly the setting for a Hallmark movie. However, there is a blessing in the journey, and a reason for the homecoming. Perhaps, we too, can “come home” this Christmas.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-7

"An Unexpected Journey" – S02E94 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.

#AnUnexpectedJourney #Advent

The season of Advent has begun. The journey we are taking to the manger feels a lot like coming home after a long trip. As Christians, we are coming home to the birth of the Prince of Peace. Let's journey together to meet the Christ Child and experience the peace that he brings.

Sermon Scripture Text: Isaiah 2:1-5

"Coming Home to Peace" – S02E93 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.

#cominghome #peace #journey

What do we mean when we call Jesus the "King of Kings?" We use royal language to talk about Christ often, but what are we really saying when we call Jesus King? That is the question we explore this Christ the King Sunday, using an early church letter as a resource and guide for our answer. Join us this week as we discover anew how Jesus truly is the King of Kings.

Sermon Scripture Text: Colossians 1:11-20

"Christ the King" – S02E92 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.

#ChristTheking #KingOfKings

On Christ the King Sunday we celebrate and emphasize the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus. Every King has a coronation, and Jesus is crowned, yet in the most unexpected of ways. Jesus’ crown is made of thorns, his robe and scepter used to mock him, and his enthronement a cross. Yet, all the aspects of a traditional coronation are there in the Scriptures. His coronation does not make him a king, as he is already the King of Kings, but it does make us the children of God.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 23:26-38

"The Coronation of the King" – S02E91 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.

#ChristTheking #lordship #kingship

We want to follow as God leads and live as Jesus shows us after his example. We also want to be all things and do all things. However, sometimes in order to say “yes” to God and God’s invitations to us we will need to say “no” to other things in our lives: schedules, habits, and even desires, to name a few examples. What do we need to say “no” to so that we can receive what God wants to give us?

Sermon Scripture Text: Ruth 1:1-5,19-22; 4:14-17

"Emptied to be Filled" – S02E90 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.

#EmptiedToBeFilled