Listen to the October 20, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Luke 15:11-32

This week, we'll address the problem of anger and hatred in politics. Political messaging often uses emotionally charged phrases designed to provoke outrage, and many leaders tap into these feelings, encouraging division and hostility. However, we are called to respect one another, which means truly seeing and valuing each other. Bob Dralle will share his reflections on returning from Vietnam, the division and hatred that marked that time, the pain it caused veterans like him, and the impact of finally having his sacrifice recognized many years later.

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Listen to the October 13, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Matthew 6:19-24

This week, we'll explore the issue of idolatry—how we often place our hope and trust in a particular candidate or political party. While our intentions may be good, it's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of power, wealth, or influence to achieve our goals. However, Jesus makes it clear—we cannot serve two masters. Our ultimate allegiance should be to God, which should shape how we engage in politics, not the other way around. As Andy Stanley puts it, we need to view politics through the lens of our faith, rather than letting politics shape our faith.

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Listen to the October 6, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Luke 10:25-37

This week, we'll explore the growing polarization in our country, looking at how we often identify with our "tribe" and the distrust we feel toward those outside it. We'll also highlight how kindness can break down barriers and remind us of our shared humanity.

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Listen to the September 29, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 26:4-23

Paul’s final missionary ended not in Antioch, but in Jerusalem. However, just as it was for Jesus, Jerusalem represented an ominous ending for his journeys. The Spirit of God witnessed to Paul that he would be arrested and imprisoned and would suffer greatly, but that through his suffering God would witness to his glory. And that’s exactly what happened. Within three days of arriving in Jerusalem, Paul was in chains. He remained in prison (first in Jerusalem and then in Caesarea) for two years before finally being transferred to Rome where he would live under house arrest. Yet in every place—first before the mob in Jerusalem, then before Agrippa in Caesarea, and finally before the leaders in Rome, Paul told the same story of how Jesus had appeared to him, how Jesus had changed his life, and how Jesus had appointed him to bear witness to his forgiveness and salvation. This was his story; this was his song. It became his lasting legacy, his gift to the world and to the church. What is the story of your life and faith? How has God shown up in your life? How can you share that story with others?

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Listen to the September 22, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 20:7-12

After the dust settled in Ephesus, Paul continued to a city named Troas. At the conclusion of his time in Troas, Paul wanted to leave some “final words” for the church there. Apparently he had a lot to say, because Paul spoke to them until well after midnight. A young man in the room became drowsy and fell asleep, and he fell three floors to the ground! The boy (named Eutychus) was initially presumed dead, but Paul proclaimed that life was still in him and brought him back to consciousness. This narrative is examined in the context of Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem, highlighting the early church's emphasis on resurrection and new life. The sermon also underscores the significance of young people in the church, showing that from the very beginning, youth have been essential to the life of the faith community. The congregation is encouraged not only to support young people but also to learn from them—their hope, energy, and belief in a better world. The message calls for embracing the optimism of youth, valuing their perspectives, and recognizing the hope they bring to the church and the world.

https://www.zumc.org/sermons

Listen to the September 15, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 17:16-31

In all his journeys, Paul experienced great opposition. He was arrested, beaten, even stoned. One such story of opposition took place in Ephesus, a city where Paul remained in ministry for three years (longer than any other location in his missionary journeys). The trouble started when a silversmith named Demetrius gathered together all the artisans who crafted idols for sale to the people. Demetrius and his compatriots were angry that Paul was winning people away from pagan worship to follow the Way of Christ. Paul’s ministry was costing them income. So Demetrius staged a riot, and tried to have Paul dragged into the theater where he would’ve been killed. (Thankfully other disciples intervened and kept Paul from entering the fray.) Eventually local officials dispersed the mob, but this incident serves as a reminder that the ministry of Christ always brings us into conflict with idols. (Consider that in this story the true idol was not Artemis herself, but rather the idol of Mammon—the money that the artisans were losing!) We must still today confront the idols that claim our (and others’) hearts, and recognize Christ’s dominion over them. Only when fully surrendered to God will we see what God can do in our midst.

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Listen to the September 8, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 16:19-34

One of the most well-known stories about Paul & Silas took place when they were unjustly imprisoned (for casting an evil spirit out of a girl who was a slave). While they were in prison (singing and praising God together, even in chains), an earthquake happened and the doors of the prison came off their hinges and their chains were opened as well. When the jailer saw what had taken place, he assumed the prisoners had all escaped and he prepared to kill himself (his life would be forfeit for allowing all the prisoners to leave). But Paul & Silas cried out to him—“We are all still here!” The jailer could not make sense of these two men who would rather surrender their freedom

than to bring harm to him. Their love for him—a stranger and an enemy—had far more impact upon him than even the earthquake he experienced. He immediately confessed his faith in Jesus and had all his household baptized. This story reminds us that our witness to others relies not on having all the right words, but in our consistent love and in our constant praise of God.

https://www.zumc.org/sermons

The Journeys of Paul, Week 2: The Friends We Love

Listen to the September 1, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 15:36-41

In total, Paul made three different “missionary journeys” (all beginning and ending back at the church in Antioch). However, Paul did not travel with the same people on all his journeys. For his first missionary journey, Paul traveled with Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement” who advocated on his behalf among the leadership of the Jerusalem church. However, after the Jerusalem Council Paul & Barnabas parted ways, because Barnabas wanted to include another Christian (John Mark) who had been part of their first missionary journey (but who had not been part of the challenges & persecution they had experienced). Their differences were so sharp that they went their separate ways, and Paul found a new partner, Silas, to travel with, and even found a third companion (Timothy) who would take the place of John Mark. While we would love to believe that “a friend is a friend forever,” the truth is that God brings different people beside us to walk different stages of our journey. Some friends stay with us forever, others are there only for a season. But for all these friends—those who are still with us and those who are not—we can give thanks for their impact upon the people we have become.

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The Journeys of Paul, Week 1: Where Christians Got Their Name

Listen to the August 25, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Acts 11:19-26 and 13:1-3

Paul & Barnabas began their joint ministry at the church in Antioch; it was from this church that they were commissioned to go and tell the nations about Jesus. The church in Antioch was unique in many ways. It was a diverse and inclusive church, one of the first churches where Gentiles and Jews were fully integrated as a community. It was also a generous and missional church—not only sending their leaders out into the world, but also collecting money for the relief and support of those in need. Their witness was so profound that this was the first place where followers of “the Way” were called “Christians”—people who reflected the nature of Christ.

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Greek 101 - School Blessing Service 2024

Listen to the August 18, 2024 worship service from Zionsville United Methodist Church in Zionsville, IN.

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Around here, students have recently gone back to school. So we're taking some time, like we do every year, to share some blessings for all the students, teachers, administrators, and support staff in our community. Please join us for our annual School Blessing Service.

https://www.zumc.org/sermons