Behind the Scenes: Big Power Lives in Small Words

What can our words reveal about the state of our hearts? In this week’s Behind the Scenes podcast, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Pastor Laura Johnson to explore Matthew 15:10-20 and Jesus’ challenging teaching about what truly makes us “clean” or “unclean.”

Kevin and Laura unpack Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees, the tension between religious tradition and the heart of God, and why Jesus shifts the focus from outward rules to what is happening within us. They also talk about the surprising power of our words—how something that seems small can have a profound impact on others and reveal what’s happening in our own hearts.

As part of our Small Things, Big Impact series, this conversation asks an important question: What do the words we speak tell us about the state of our hearts?

Listen in as Kevin and Laura dig deeper into the Scripture behind this week’s sermon and consider what it means to live a life shaped not by rules and restrictions, but by love, service, kindness, generosity, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

📖 Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20; Ephesians 4:29–5:2
🎙️ Host: Kevin Van Hall
🎙️ Guest: Pastor Laura Johnson

Big Faith Begins with a Small Step | Rev. Beth Hood

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? In this sermon, Rev. Beth Hood explores the story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33 and invites us to consider how fear can either paralyze us or propel us toward Jesus.

Peter takes one small step out of the boat when Jesus says, “Come.” For a moment, his faith carries him across the water—but when he becomes distracted by the wind and waves, he begins to sink. Yet sinking isn't the end of Peter's story. Jesus reaches out, catches him, and reminds us that even our moments of doubt and fear do not put us beyond God's care.

Rev. Hood encourages us to think about the small steps of faith we can take in our own lives: reading one verse of Scripture, praying one simple prayer, giving a little more generously, asking for help, or stepping into a new opportunity to serve. God rarely gives us the whole map, but God does show us God's presence. We are never alone in the storm.

Drawing from her own experience weathering Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, Rev. Hood also reflects on how stepping into places of need can become opportunities to experience and share the hands and feet of Jesus. When one person takes a courageous step toward Jesus, that faith can inspire and strengthen an entire community.

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33; Romans 10:5-15

Preacher: Rev. Beth Hood, Assistant to the Bishop for the Office of Clergy Life

Key themes: faith, fear, taking a step of faith, Peter walking on water, trusting Jesus, doubt, courage, Christian discipleship, prayer, spiritual growth, God's presence, community, hope, and following Jesus.

Listen as we consider the question: What is one small step you can take toward Jesus?

Big Miracles Begin with Small Gifts | Rev. Laura Johnson | North Raleigh UMC

What if the miracle you've been praying for begins with the small gift you already have?

In this message from the Small Things, Big Impact series, Rev. Laura Johnson explores the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14. Set against the backdrop of grief following the death of John the Baptist, this miracle reveals a Savior whose compassion meets people in their deepest needs—and who invites ordinary disciples to participate in God's extraordinary work.

When the disciples see only five loaves and two fish, they focus on scarcity. Jesus sees possibility. Rather than sending the crowd away or creating food from nothing, Jesus takes the small offering already in their hands, blesses it, multiplies it, and sends the disciples to share it. The miracle begins not with abundance, but with a willingness to offer what little they have.

Through stories of everyday generosity—from a woman faithfully feeding her neighbors to young entrepreneurs transforming their communities through Zoe Empowers—Laura reminds us that God rarely asks us to solve every problem. Instead, God asks us to start somewhere. The smallest act of faith, compassion, or generosity can become the catalyst for a miracle when placed in Christ's hands.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the needs of the world or wondered whether your gifts could really make a difference, this sermon offers hope and a fresh perspective on God's abundance. You don't have to have everything. You simply have to bring what you have to Jesus.

At North Raleigh United Methodist Church, our purpose is to be a church where you can belong just as you are, become like Jesus, and be love for God's world.

Scripture: Matthew 14:13–21; Isaiah 55:1–3, 12–13
Preacher: Rev. Laura Johnson
Date: August 2, 2026
Series: Small Things, Big Impact
Church: North Raleigh United Methodist Church

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Rev. Laura Johnson to explore one of Jesus' most well-known miracles: the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.

As the Small Things, Big Impact sermon series continues, Laura reflects on how Jesus responds with compassion in the midst of grief, provides for both spiritual and physical needs, and challenges his disciples with a surprising command: "You give them something to eat." Together, Kevin and Laura unpack the deeper meaning behind the miracle, its connection to the Exodus story, the Lord's Supper, and what it teaches us about generosity, abundance, and trusting God with the little we have.

Could the greatest miracle be more than multiplying bread? What happens when ordinary people offer what they have in faith? And how might small acts of compassion become God's way of transforming communities today?

Whether you've heard this story countless times or are encountering it with fresh eyes, this conversation offers practical insight into how Jesus continues to nourish, equip, and send his followers to care for the world around them.

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21
Series: Small Things, Big Impact
Guest: Rev. Laura Johnson
Host: Kevin Van Hall

Subscribe to Behind the Scenes from North Raleigh United Methodist Church for weekly conversations that take you deeper into Sunday's scripture and sermon, helping you discover how God's Word speaks into everyday life.

Small Things, Big Impact: Big Treasures Start Small | Rev. Kevin Johnson | North Raleigh UMC

What if the things we overlook as small, ordinary, or insignificant are actually where God is at work?

In this sermon from the Small Things, Big Impact series, Rev. Kevin Johnson explores Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13: the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the net. Through these surprising stories, Jesus invites us to see the world differently—to recognize that God’s realm is already at work among us, often in unexpected and seemingly insignificant places.

The Kingdom of God doesn’t always arrive in the ways we expect. It can begin small, grow quietly, surprise us, and challenge the boundaries and assumptions we hold tightly. And when we begin to see it, we may discover that what once seemed small is actually a treasure worth everything.

Kevin invites us to consider what it means to surrender to God’s work and to respond not by trying to accomplish something extraordinary, but by asking a simple question: What is one small thing God is calling me to do?

Maybe it’s praying for someone, reaching out to a friend, changing one habit, serving a particular community, or simply opening ourselves more fully to God.

At North Raleigh United Methodist Church, our purpose is to be a church where you can belong just as you are, become like Jesus, and be love for God’s world. This sermon invites us to consider how even the smallest steps of faith can help us live more fully into that calling.

Scripture: Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52
Psalter: Psalm 105:1–11, 45b
Preacher: Rev. Kevin Johnson
Date: July 26, 2026
Series: Small Things, Big Impact
Church: North Raleigh United Methodist Church

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Rev. Kevin Johnson to kick off our new sermon series, Small Things, Big Impact, by exploring Jesus' parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great value from Matthew 13:31-33.

What if the Kingdom of God isn't primarily about grand gestures or extraordinary accomplishments? Pastor Kevin unpacks how Jesus reveals that God's work often begins in the smallest, most ordinary places and quietly transforms lives from the inside out. Together, they discuss what it means to live in God's realm here and now, why the Kingdom is worth giving everything for, and how small acts of faithfulness can have an eternal impact.

Whether you're wrestling with what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life or looking for fresh insight into these familiar parables, this conversation will challenge you to see that the greatest work of God's Kingdom often starts with the smallest seeds.

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33 (with discussion of Matthew 13:44-52)
Series: Small Things, Big Impact
Guest: Rev. Kevin Johnson
Host: Kevin Van Hall

Subscribe to Behind the Scenes from North Raleigh United Methodist Church for weekly conversations that go deeper into Sunday's scripture and sermon, helping you grow in faith and discover practical ways to follow Jesus every day.

I Am the True Vine | Rev. Laura Johnson | North Raleigh UMC

What did Jesus mean when He said, "I am the true vine"?

In this message from John 15, Rev. Laura Johnson explores the seventh and final "I Am" statement in the Gospel of John. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gives His disciples one last image to remember: He is the vine, the Father is the gardener, and we are the branches. This beautiful metaphor reveals that the Christian life is not about striving harder or producing fruit through our own efforts. It is about abiding in Christ and allowing God's love to transform us from the inside out.

Drawing on John's Gospel and the rich tradition of Wesleyan and United Methodist theology, Laura reflects on God's grace, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, and the invitation to remain rooted in the limitless love of Christ. As we abide in Jesus, God prunes away what keeps us from thriving so that our lives naturally bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, and faithful discipleship.

Whether you're feeling spiritually weary, longing for a deeper relationship with God, or wondering what it truly means to follow Jesus, this sermon offers biblical encouragement and practical hope. Jesus' invitation is simple yet life-changing: remain in His love. As we receive God's extraordinary love, we are empowered to share that same love with the world.

Scripture: John 15:1-17

At North Raleigh United Methodist Church, our purpose is to be a church where you can Belong just as you are, Become more like Jesus, and Be Love for God's World.

Topics: John 15, I Am the True Vine, True Vine, Abide in Christ, Rev. Laura Johnson, United Methodist Church, Wesleyan theology, grace, sanctification, Holy Spirit, discipleship, fruit of the Spirit, God's love, Christian living, love one another, Bible study, sermon, North Raleigh UMC.