It's Better When You're Here!

Thank you for joining us. Today, we answer questions submitted by members of our church and community—questions about God, Scripture, faith, life, and what it means to follow Jesus today.

While the questions may come from different experiences and perspectives, our goal is always the same: to seek biblical truth, offer Christ-centered encouragement, and help one another grow in faith.

So let's open God's Word and explore today's submitted questions. Welcome to "Ask A Pastor" anything.

Last week we talked about silence, and honestly, I've never felt more countercultural.

As followers of Jesus, we often live in a tension. We are called to love the people of this world deeply while also recognizing that the way things are is not the way God intended them to be. We celebrate what is good, beautiful, and true, while also naming the places where our culture pulls us away from the life God desires for us.

Last week's conversation about silence was a prime example of that. So many of you reached out afterward and thanked me for the sermon, and I think part of the reason is because noise has become the drug of choice in our culture. We are constantly surrounded by distractions, notifications, entertainment, and information. Many of us have forgotten what it feels like to simply be still.

This week, I want to take on another heavyweight: busyness.

In many ways, busyness has become a badge of honor. We wear packed schedules like trophies. We equate activity with significance and productivity with worth. Yet Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry. He was fully present, fully engaged, and yet deeply rested in the Father's love.

Today, we're talking about one of God's greatest gifts and one of our most neglected means of grace: Sabbath.

My prayer is that we would boldly love God through rest, not because we've earned it, but because God has given it. And as we learn to embrace Sabbath, may we more fully experience the love, light, and hope of Jesus Christ.

Passage: Psalms 92: 1-15 CEB

Last week, we unpacked prayer and explored what it means to pray—and why our prayers matter. This week, I want us to lean into another spiritual discipline: silence.

Now honestly, when I told someone I was preaching on silence, I immediately regretted it. I think my exact words were, “Why did I say I would preach on silence?!” And without missing a beat, she said, “Ah yes… silence. The thing you love so much.”

And listen—that’s fair. I love to talk. I love conversation, stories, laughter, noise. I love to yap.

But somewhere along the way, we’ve confused being busy with being spiritually healthy. We fill every quiet moment with music, podcasts, scrolling, notifications, or our own thoughts. And because of that, many of us have forgotten how to simply be still before God.

Yet Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Silence is uncomfortable because it forces us to slow down. It strips away distractions. It exposes what’s really going on in our hearts. But silence is also sacred, because when the noise fades, we begin to hear the voice of Jesus more clearly.

If we never embrace silence, we may miss the Love, Light, and Hope Christ is trying to speak into our lives.

Silence is not the absence of God. Sometimes, it is the very place where God speaks the loudest.

Passage: Mark 1:32-39 CEB

As Annual Conference gathers the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church here in Lakeland, we are invited into a powerful theme: awakening to grace. In the Methodist tradition, we believe God meets us through the means of grace—through prayer, worship, communion, Scripture, service, and community. These practices are not just habits; they are holy pathways that awaken us to the presence and love of God already at work among us.

In this new series, we will reconnect with our spiritual heritage while discovering fresh ways to experience God’s grace in our everyday lives. My hope is that together we will be awakened again—to the love, light, and hope of Jesus Christ. May we be rooted deeply in prayer, open fully to God’s presence, and transformed by the grace that has always been reaching toward us.

Passage: Matthew 6:5-13 CEB

As we come to the close of our series, Like a Girl, it feels fitting that we also gather to celebrate Mother's Day. Every one of us has a mother, and today’s story centers on two women whose lives show us the beauty of shared love and shared strength. Together, they offer us a vision of what life can look like when community matters more than self-interest. Their story invites us into a way of living where care is mutual, burdens are shared, and love is given freely. May we learn to love ourselves well, so that we can love others boldly and wildly.

Passage: Luke 1:39-45 CEB

In a world captivated by the image of the lone, heroic leader, the story of Deborah reminds us that the greatest callings in our lives are never meant to be carried alone. As Gretchen learned in the Marine Corps, and as we discover in our everyday lives, we always go farther when we go together. Today, I want to remind us all that each of us leads somewhere, and that the best outcomes are often waiting on the other side of collaboration. So may we have the courage, wisdom, and humility to lead like Deborah.

Passage: Judges 4:6-9 CEB

As we begin a new series exploring the often-overlooked stories of women in the Bible, it feels important to say this: it shouldn’t have to be a series—but it does.

Women have always been central to our faith. Their courage, leadership, and witness are woven throughout Scripture. And yet, too often, their stories have been minimized while louder voices have tried to define their place. If those voices have been loud, then ours must be louder still.

I’m grateful to add my voice to this growing chorus—people whose faith has been strengthened, challenged, and shaped by the women of Scripture.

May we be faithful like Miriam. May we be willing to show up.

May we listen, learn, and carry these stories forward.

Passage: Exodus 2:2-8 CEB

Join Reverend Michael LeBlanc at our Chapel Campus as we celebrate a full year of worshiping together every Sunday in this wonderful location. Be part of this special milestone and experience the joy of community, reflection, and faith.

Passage: John 20:19-31 CEB

Friends, Lent is over.

As a church, we’ve spent this sacred season wrestling with deconstruction—what it means to gently, honestly take apart a faith that may have been handed to us in pieces that no longer fit, and to begin rebuilding something more durable, more vibrant, more expansive. Not a faith rooted in fear, but one grounded in truth. Not something brittle, but something alive.

And today is Easter.

Today, we remember that what we are building is not a system of rules or a list of boundaries. It is not small, and it is not fragile. It is a living freedom—a hope that does not collapse under doubt, a love that is not undone by questions.

This is the kind of faith that walks through death and comes out the other side.

This is resurrection.

Passage: John 20:11-18 CEB

Join Reverend Michael at our Chapel Campus during our sunrise service on Easter morning.

Passage: John 20:11-18 CEB