United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

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United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast episodes

  • When God Calls

    Sometimes God calls us in ways that leave us feeling we want to run in the opposite direction, as did Jonah! But in fact God would lead us in directions that bring fulfillment.

    21 min
  • We Are Not Forsaken

    Easter is the movement from forsakenness – the feeling that God is absent – to the triumph of God’s redeeming power!

    21 min
  • Into the Hands of God

    In the moment of greatest challenge and finally in the moment of death, we can entrust ourselves with confidence into God’s hands.

    13 min
  • Jesus’ Feet Today

    Rev. Douglas Denton examines the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet and its message for our own acts of humility and love.

    18 min
  • Crisis Counsels from the Scriptures #3

    The past two days in Crisis

    Counsels we considered the story of King Jehoshaphat, one of the most
    faithful of the kings of Judah, who confronted an enormous crisis when his
    country was subjected to a powerful invasion of foreign forces. II Chronicles
    chapter 20 describes how Jehoshaphat went to the temple in Jerusalem to pray.

    In the first part of the prayer, Jehoshaphat looks to God

    in faith, and recalls that God is ever at work with saving power. Then Jehoshaphat
    concludes the prayer with one of the most memorable statements of the Old Testament:
    “We do not know what we should do, but our eyes, Lord, are fixed upon you.” (II
    Chronicles 20:12)

    The question of “What should we do?” has been paramount

    these days. Confusion and uncertainty abound. We design one course of action to
    respond to the pandemic, and then another set of guidelines appears. The
    landscape shifts by the day and even by the hour. But there is one fixed point
    from which we can gain our ultimate wisdom and inspiration. When we fix our
    vision upon God, we find orientation that can help us rightly navigate through
    this and every crisis.

    By trusting in God, Jehoshaphat had reason for confidence

    and hope, long before the answer to his dilemma appeared. We likewise can find
    strength and guidance and peace as we fix our vision upon the Lord.

    2 min
  • Crisis Counsels from the Scriptures #2

    Yesterday in Crisis

    Counsels we considered the story of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah in the ninth
    century B.C., who faced an enormous crisis when his country was invaded by an
    outside power. His first and central response was to look to God in faith,
    trusting that in all times God is at work with power. His prayer, which he
    uttered in the temple in Jerusalem, is found in II Chronicles chapter 20.

    In the middle of the prayer, Jehoshaphat says, “If

    disaster comes upon us, the sword or pestilence or famine, we will stand before
    this house and before You, and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear
    and save.” (II Chronicles 20:9)

    Jehoshaphat was threatened by “the sword,” but it is

    notable that he also mentions “pestilence,” exactly what threatens us! His
    prayer provides solid spiritual guidance no matter what “disaster” we face – We will stand before You and cry to You in
    our distress, and You will hear and save.

    A unique feature of our situation is that we cannot even

    go to “God’s house” like Jehoshaphat did, since we are moving to livestreamed
    rather than in-person worship. Yet we benefit from the virtual connections made
    possible by modern technology, so that we can join all the more in the
    spiritual movement that Jehoshaphat describes – to call to God in our distress,
    trusting in God’s saving help.

    We do not know exactly how this crisis will unfold, but

    we stand with Jehoshaphat in faith, looking to God to uphold us and direct our
    actions, and having the assurance that we are not alone.

    Prayer:

    We cry to You, O Lord, in our distress, trusting that You are a God who hears
    and saves.

    3 min
  • Crisis Counsels from the Scriptures

    The Bible recounts many times of crisis in the story of

    the people of Israel. One of those is described in II Chronicles 20. During the
    reign of Jehoshaphat, the people of Judah were subjected to an enormous
    invasion. The Scripture reports, “Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A
    great multitude is coming against you.’” (II Chronicles 20:2) We of course are
    experiencing an enormous invasion today – an invisible one, but no less
    threatening.

    What would King Jehoshaphat do? His primary response was

    to pray. In his initial prayer, he
    recalled the power of God. He said, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you are God
    in heaven. You rule over all. In your hand are power and might . . .” (II
    Chronicles 20:6)

    There are many specific actions that we are all taking to respond to the coronavirus; but the Scripture reminds us that the most crucial action to take is to look to God. We need to remember that God is at work with power. God is here to sustain and guide. Prayer is the action of opening ourselves in trust to God, to experience anew God’s gracious help.

    2 min

About United Methodist Church of Kent Sermon Podcast

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This is the sermon podcast for the United Methodist Church of Kent. Please check back each Wednesday for the latest sermon!