Grow Deeper

As we conclude the sermon series on the Parables of Jesus, we look at the 20th chapter of Matthew and the story of a very generous landowner. Rev. Mike Holly looks at the various perspectives of people in the story from the landowner himself to the workers that arrived early as well as those who arrived late. This parable is delivered as a response to the rich young man who was saddened to hear that in order to receive eternal life, he must sell all he has and follow Jesus as well as Peter's response. Peter sees himself and the other disciples as having a head start to eternal life in that they have given up everything to follow Jesus. Maybe our jockeying for position in the church is irrelevant since we serve a God who is ready to bring us all into the family as equal brothers and sisters. What does this parable teach you about the Kingdom of Heaven?

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 20:1-16

"What Is Fair?" – S02E39 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #Laborers #Vineyard #Equity

In this message Ross spends some time exploring the Parable of the Talents. This is one of the more challenging teachings that we have from Jesus, it begins with an abundant gift from a master, and ends with anger when the master doesn't think his gift has been used wisely. If you are curious why this parable is relevant for us today give this sermon a listen! It begs the question from us, how are we using God's gifts?

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 25:14-30

"Parable of the Talents" – S02E38 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #Talents #Jesus #Master #Gifts

Preaching this Sunday in Traditional Worship at Bluff Park UMC is Rev. Mike Holly. In Mike's sermon, he explores how the first two servants are actively doing what they can to invest and increase their master's money in his absence and how the third servant simply digs a hole and maintains what he has been given. God provides us with resources and calls us to be good stewards of them. This requires us to live out of faith and hope rather than to live in a self-made prison of our fears. Consider how you can faithfully serve and take on a little risk for the sake of the mission that God gives to each of us.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 25:14-30

"Taking Care of the Talents" – S02E37 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #Talents #Stewardship

Preaching this Sunday in the Gathering at Bluff Park UMC is Rev. Mike Holly, the Senior Pastor at Bluff Park UMC. In Mike's sermon, he helps us see how our neighbors are more than just the people who live very near to us. Our neighbor is anyone in need in front of us, wherever we may find ourselves. The Samaritan cares for a stranger by going close to him, not avoiding him. He also ensures that he will be taken care of even after he returns to his journey. Consider the expanding circles of neighbors that Mike talks about and how you will love and care for people in each circle.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 10:25-37

"The Good Samaritan" – S02E36 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #GoodSamaritan #neighbors

Preaching on the story of the Good Samaritan this Sunday in Traditional Worship at Bluff Park UMC is Rev. Julie Holly.

Sermon Scripture Text: Luke 10:25-37

"The Good Samaritan" – S02E35 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #GoodSamaritan #neighbors

Preaching this Sunday in the Gathering at Bluff Park UMC is guest preacher, Rev. Clay Farrington, a United Methodist Elder here in North Alabama. Clay helps us see how real and how raw forgiveness can be as well as how we need to take the message of Jesus seriously. The people in the story do not act like we would assume they would. When we fail to recognize the blessings in our lives and grow appropriately from them, we run the risk of turning our blessings into self-serving opportunities and neglecting those in need around us. Jesus wants us to consider what God's forgiveness should do to our lives and our hearts!

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 18:23-35

"The Unmerciful Servant" – S02E34 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #UnmercifulServant #TenThousandTalents

Peter asks Jesus if they should forgive someone up to seven times, but Jesus replies that they should forgive that person 77 times (or possibly even 70 x 7 times). Jesus then tells about the radical forgiveness of a debt from a master to a servant. This absurd amount of debt is forgiven to a servant who then refuses to forgive the much smaller debt of another servant. The mercy we receive is supposed to be passed along to others in need of mercy. And what do we do with the threat of being judged for how we withhold mercy from others? We explore this difficult parable in today's sermon.

Sermon Scripture Text: Matthew 18:23-35

"The Unmerciful Servant" – S02E33 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly 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.

#Parables #UnmercifulServant #TenThousandTalents

Preaching this Sunday in the Gathering at Bluff Park is guest preacher, Rev. Scott Barnes, from Riverchase UMC in Hoover, AL. Scott shares with us that Mustard Seed Faith may start small, but it grows into a powerful force within our own hearts and in a growing impact on the world. We must turn away from sin and division and instead lean forward in faith and trust so that our calling to share our faith and serve others may be lived out in radical ways. Scott reminds us just how powerful faith can be in our own community as well as in the world.

Sermon Scripture Text: Mark 4:30-32

"Mustard Seed Faith" – S02E32 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons from 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.

#Parables #MustardSeed #KingdomOfGod

In our Traditional Worship services this Easter, we will explore the parables of Jesus. On this first Sunday after Easter, we learn about how the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Rev. Mike Holly shares with us that a mustard seed is small, but it can grow into a sprawling bush. But we also must remember that there is not much we can do to force growth. We can tend to a planted seed and ensure that it is in the right environment for growth, but it is out of our hands. God is in charge of the faith growing within us as well as the growing impact of the Kingdom of God even if it starts in a small package like a mustard seed. As our faith grows and as it is used, it can grow in its broadening impact on the world around us. Listen to the sermon on the Parable of the Mustard Seed and contemplate how God is at work within your own heart and life and what impact you might be able to have empowered by His Spirit.

Sermon Scripture Text: Mark 4:30-32

"Mustard Seed Faith" – S02E31 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons from 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.

#Parables #MustardSeed #KingdomOfGod

Easter, of course, is a celebration of God’s gift of new life through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. In John 21, one of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus during which Jesus surprises some of the disciples at the end of their unsuccessful night of fishing, the conversation Jesus has with Peter, who denied knowing Jesus three times, reminds us that new life is both something we receive and something in which we are called to participate. Peter received forgiveness and a new chance after his denials which was a cause of celebration. But the gift of new life he received in that moment was also a call to action. Jesus, within the act of forgiveness, calls Peter to “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” “Feed my sheep.” Even as we celebrate God giving us new life through Jesus, we are called also to participate in sharing the grace we receive.

Sermon Scripture Text: John 21

"Second Chances" – S02E30 of Grow Deeper: A Bluff Park UMC Podcast

Welcome to the Grow Deeper podcast. We’re pastors Mike Holly and Ross Furio from Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. Each week we share our Sunday sermons from 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.

#Easter #Peter #Forgiveness #Discipleship