Kindred Church Podcast

For most of us, the word “service” doesn’t inspire a lot of excitement. “Service” sounds like time-consuming, energy-consuming work that probably won’t be much fun to do. So no wonder we often feel a mix of guilt and defensiveness when someone approaches us with an invitation to serve. And yet, Scripture consistently portrays “service” as an unmatched source of profound joy. So in today’s sermon, we’ll allow Scripture to challenge some of our assumptions and help us to discover why “service” may be the very thing we need to experience true joy in the midst of our insanely busy lives. Join us as we continue our series, “Pillars of Joy.” 

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Behind all the different identities that the world imposes upon us, there is something deeper and truer: who we are in God’s eyes. In today’s sermon, we’ll be reminded that God has gifted us with a sacred calling, and we’ll be encouraged to walk through this life in a manner worthy of our call. Join us as we begin a new series, “Pillars of Joy.” 

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-5

The world around us is a mess, to put it mildly. You don’t have to look far to see painful reminders of how harmful humans can be. And as easy as it is to point fingers at “them,” the truth is that we’re each part of the problem in one way or another. But during such heavy times, it’s important to remember that in God’s eyes, our brokenness doesn’t overshadow our belovedness. In today’s sermon, we’ll take a fresh look at a well-known biblical story that offers a forceful reminder of God’s unfailing commitment to us and to our world. 

Scripture Reading: Genesis 7:11-16

Have you ever wanted to grow in your relationship with God, but despite your best intentions, you just couldn’t seem to make it happen? It’s a common experience that can become very discouraging. But we don’t have to give up! In today’s sermon, we’ll explore one of our biggest obstacles to spiritual growth. And we’ll learn from a beloved biblical story how a simple mindset shift can make all the difference in our faith, our life, and our relationship with God. 

Scripture Reading: Daniel 6:16-23

What’s that fear that has you tossing and turning at 2am? What’s that fear that has you scrolling on your phone trying to think about anything else? What’s that fear that keeps you from doing what you know you need to do? Life is scary. Sometimes overwhelmingly scary. So in today’s sermon we’ll explore a well-known but under-appreciated biblical story about faith in the face of fear. And we’ll learn how our faith can help us overcome even our most gigantic fears.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-37

In today’s sermon, we’ll explore one of the most striking and mysterious passages in the Old Testament, and we’ll discover what this ancient story has to teach us about the life-giving power of a strong church community. Join us!

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:9-14

At Kindred Church, we believe that God is radically inclusive because that’s what Jesus repeatedly demonstrates. But if we’re not careful, we can affirm the inclusivity of God without actually responding to it in our lives. In today’s sermon, we’ll explore a powerful passage in which Jesus reminds us that we are included by God while he also shows us how we might be excluding ourselves. Gulp! Get ready to be comforted and challenged…at the same time!

Scripture Reading: Luke 14:15-24

We live in a world of transactions. Whether we’re shopping for groceries, exploring a new job opportunity, or planning how we’ll spend our day off, we’re constantly weighing what we’re willing to give against what we expect to get. So it’s easy to assume that God operates the same way. But in today’s sermon we’ll explore the foundational truth that God’s love is a gift freely given, and we’ll be challenged to love our neighbors the same way. 

Scripture Reading:  Luke 14:11-15

When we’re going through a time of questioning our faith, doubting God, or feeling unworthy, it can sometimes be tough just to attend church, much less to seek out an active role. But in today’s sermon, we’ll see that from the very beginning, Jesus has been calling unready people into the adventure of being his church. Turns out, putting us to work before we’re ready is Jesus’ preferred M.O. Join us as we celebrate “Pentecost,” the birthday of the church.

Scripture Reading:  Acts 2:1-4

In various ways and for different reasons, many of us struggle with pain, fear, suffering, or persistent feelings of unworthiness. And as we bear the weight of those struggles, it’s natural to question whether God is with us. But our faith reveals a God who meets us in our darkest places and leads us through. Today in worship, we’ll meet a man whose journey has taken him from paralyzing addiction and maximum-security prison to becoming a United Methodist pastor. As we hear his remarkable story, we’ll discover profound encouragement and hard-earned wisdom about finding God in the struggle.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 107:1-3 (NIV)