Nowata Methodists Podcast

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12 (LSB)

Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian Perfectionand what it truly means to be made holy. Contrary to common misconceptions, Wesley teaches that Christian perfection is not sinless flawlessness, but a life increasingly shaped by perfect love for God and neighbor through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Philippians 3 and the witness of the early Church, we examine how God uses the means of grace to restore His image within us and lead us toward Christlikeness. This message challenges us not to settle for forgiveness alone, but to pursue a life continually transformed by God’s grace and perfected in love.

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’" - Malachi 3:7 (LSB)

Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s sermon The Means of Grace and the practical ways God nurtures and strengthens the Christian life. Focusing on prayer, the study of Scripture, and Holy Communion, we examine how these ordinary practices become extraordinary channels through which God pours out His grace. Wesley reminds us that these means are not ways to earn salvation, but gifts that draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ. As we reflect on the importance of faithful spiritual disciplines and the real presence of Christ at His table, this message encourages us to embrace the means of grace with renewed joy, trusting that God faithfully meets His people through them.

“And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.” - Acts 4:31 (LSB)

Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, we’re joined by guest speaker Josh Pearsall as he explores John Wesley’s classic sermon Scriptural Christianity. Looking to the life of the early Church in the book of Acts, Wesley paints a vision of authentic Christianity—not merely a profession of faith, but a life transformed by the Holy Spirit and marked by holiness, love, and joyful obedience to Christ. As Josh unpacks Wesley’s challenge to the Church of his day, we’re invited to ask whether our own lives reflect the faith of the apostles and to consider how God’s kingdom can be made visible through us. This message calls us to embrace the means of grace, pursue holiness, and live as faithful witnesses to the transforming power of the gospel.

“For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’” — Ephesians 5:14 (LSB)

Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores Charles Wesley’s powerful sermon Awake, Thou That Sleepest from Ephesians 5:14. Building on the themes of salvation by faith and The Almost Christian, this sermon examines the danger of spiritual complacency and the call to awaken from spiritual sleep. Through Scripture and the Wesleyan tradition, we discover that Christ does not merely expose our need—He awakens us to new life, transforming our hearts to love God and serve others. Join us as we consider what it means to move beyond outward religion and live as fully awakened disciples of Jesus Christ.

But Agrippa replied to Paul, “In such short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” - Acts 26:28 (LSB)

Part of our “The Devotional Wesley” sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s famous sermon “The Almost Christian” from Acts 26:28. Wesley challenges us to consider whether we are merely “almost” Christians—moral, religious, and sincere—or truly surrendered followers of Jesus Christ. Through Scripture and Wesley’s own spiritual journey, we examine the difference between outward religion and genuine saving faith, a faith marked by love for God, love for neighbor, and wholehearted trust in Christ. This timeless message calls us to move beyond mere church attendance and religious activity and embrace a living relationship with Jesus that transforms the heart.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [a]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” - Ephesians 2:8 (LSB)

We start our new series “The Devotional Wesley” this week, where we will be going through some of the standard sermons of John Wesley. This week’s will be “Salvation by Faith” based upon Ephesians 2:8.

“When the poor and needy seek water,and there is none,and their tongue is parched with thirst,I the Lord will answer them,I the God of Israel will not forsake them.I will open rivers on the bare heights,and fountains in the midst of the valleys;I will make the wilderness a pool of water,and the dry land springs of water.I will put in the wilderness the cedar,the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;I will set in the desert the cypress,the plane and the pine together;that men may see and know,may consider and understand together,that the hand of the Lord has done this,the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

- Isaiah 41:17-20 (RSV)

This week we had a guest preacher Josh Pearsall bring the message in our series “The Evidence”.

This week we continued our series “The Evidence” by looking at the testimony of scripture.

“And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”

- 1st Peter 1:17-23 (RSV)

This week we start our new series “The Evidence” where we will be exploring the cornerstones of our faith & the evidence for that faith. First we look at the empty tomb. Our readings for this sermon were 1st Peter 1:3-9 & John 20:19-31.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.”

- 1st Peter 1:3-9 (RSV)

Watch our easter sermon for 2026 as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards quaked from fear of him and became like dead men. And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and report to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Matthew 28: 1-10 (LSB)

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