Collateral Damage

"Living Into My Strengths" Series

September 17th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.

Jonah 3:6-4:3

Now that we know from week one that we are each gifted, no exceptions, there are times when we get in God’s way of bringing those gifts to life.

There are times when we are tired, frustrated, or maybe we feel that we know better than God when it comes to what needs to be done. When we choose to not live into the strengths that God has given us, or when we feel that we know better than God, there always will be collateral damage because of our decisions. Our decisions don’t only affect us but they also affect many other people because of the things that do not happen or do not get done. Beware of the collateral damage you are creating by not living into the strengths that God has given you.

No Exceptions

"Living Into My Strengths" Series

September 10th, 2017 - 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

Exodus 4:10-17

In the text for today, Moses is stopping at nothing to get out of answering the call that God put on his heart to go and set the Israelites free from their Egyptian oppressors.

Moses says, “Who am I?” “Whom shall I say sent me?” “No one will believe me.” And in today’s text, Moses says, “But Lord I stutter.” How many times have we tried to convince ourselves and God that we have no strengths or that someone else can do it better than we can? We each have strengths. No exceptions. Today is about acknowledging that simple fact that God did not forget you. YOU HAVE STRENGTHS!

No Time To Lose

Septmber 4th, 2017 - 13th Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

The Holy Vending Machine

"Double Portion" Series

August 27th, 2017 - 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

John 14:12-14

Life can truly become amazing when we come to realize that everything ultimately comes from the Lord.

Today's text from John reminds us that when we ask for anything in Jesus' name it will be given to us. Jesus says that he will do whatever we ask in His name. The problem is that many of us stop there in the text. The next thing that Jesus says is, "So that the Son may bring glory to the Father." That second part of that sentence changes everything. Are we asking for things that will bring glory to the Father, or are we just asking for things?

If You Just Believe

"Double Portion" Series

August 20th, 2017 - 11th Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

James 1:1-8

Our ability to claim a double portion of God’s Spirit in our lives requires more than just solidifying the nature of our request, it requires a heart that expects to obtain it. 

Of course an expectant and faithful heart is not gifted us without effort on our parts.  The Apostle James call us to just “believe and not doubt” and we’ll receive the greatest of gifts from above.  If only it were as easy as he and Walt Disney make it sound.  But that must not prevent us from striving towards it.  Besides, there’s no less joy in the journey than in the destination.

Be Careful What You Ask For

"Double Portion" Series

August 13th, 2017 - 10th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

Luke 18:18-30

As we come to week two of our sermon series, "Double Portion," we will be wrestling with what we ask God for in our lives and why we ask God for those things.

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. This week we  hear the rich man ask Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Both Elijah and the rich man asked for great things from a great God. We want to find out why they asked those questions and what will they do if they both get what they asked for. Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.

Double Portion

"Double Portion" Series

August 6th, 2017 - 9th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

2 Kings 2:1-11

When I found out that I was going to be a father back in 2006, I remember praying to God and asking that I would be just half the father that my dad was to me.

My dad was an amazing man and my hero so I thought if I could just be half the dad and man he was, I would be just fine. God has not called me to be a "just fine" man or father. Instead I should have been praying to be twice the dad to my boys that my dad was to me. Are you asking God for a double portion?

“Love The Sinner, Hate The Sin.”

"Half-Truths" Series

July 30th, 2017 - 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

Matthew 7:1-5

Who am I to point out the sin in someone else’s life when I reflect on my own sinful and sin-filled life?

We as Christians have the opportunity to focus on either sin or love in this world. God sent his son into this world to show us what love looks like. We spent way too much time trying to point out what sin looks like in the lives of others and all that does is divide. Love will cast out sin. Do you worry more about pointing out someone else’s sin or do you worry more about loving them? Just know that you will receive the same in return. Do you see love or sin? What do you want people to see in you?

“God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It.”

"Half-Truths" Series

July 23rd, 2017 - 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

There is so much more to the Bible than just, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.”

Even the man who wanted Jesus to heal his son told Jesus he believes,  and then said to Jesus, “Help my unbelief.” The Bible is the inspired word of God and that means that the imperfect are trying to understand a book written by the Perfect One. We preach it, study it, pray it, wrestle with it, fall in love with it, are broken by it and are saved by it. This week is about being set free to know that we do not have it all figured out. The only thing we have to know is that Jesus Christ is in the midst of each and every one of our stories. We are then to tell others of Jesus Christ and the way he has come to life in our story.

"God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 16th, 2017 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dr. Bill Kimball is preaching.

I Cor. 10:13 ; Matt. 6:13

We’ve all heard this, and some of us may have said it to others in an effort to comfort them.

But the half-truth of this can backfire when we say it, instead of comforting others it may cause them to feel weak or having a lack of trust in God. We will look at the truthful half, and the biblical full truth to discover the false part of this saying. We will examine the passage in I Cor. 10:13 and combine it with the Lord’s Prayer for a fresh look at the whole truth of God’s word for us when we face trouble or temptation.

"God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 9th, 2017 - 5th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

James 2:14-20, 26. (God’s Word Translation)

“God helps people who help themselves” is thrown around so much these days.

We even think that it comes from the Bible. That is completely false. It is not found anywhere in the Bible and it leads us down a dark path. It creates an excuse for those of us who call ourselves Christian to do nothing – even though our faith calls us to action. Are you looking for a way out of your faith? Are you hearing a call of God to send you into action? It’s about a way in or a way out. You decide.

"Everything Happens For A Reason"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 2nd, 2017 - 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

Jonah 4

Theologians barely allowed Jesus time to ascend from the earth before they took up the debate, and it continues to rage even to this day: How active truly is God in our world? 

Is He the absentee landlord who created us and promptly plopped us down here before jetting off on an eternal holiday?  Or is He the direct author of every moment of our lives, responsible for every occurrence, good and bad, that occurs throughout time?  By the time the prophet Jonah completed his now biblically documented journey, from storm-tossed, to the belly of a great fish, to sun-stroked outside the city of Nineveh, to He had seen a God of both extremes.  Perhaps the truth is that our holy and merciful God operates somewhere in between. 

I Believe In The Church

"I Believe" Series

June 25th, 2017 - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

Matthew 16:13-20

I Believe In The Holy Spirit

"I Believe" Series

June 18th, 2017 - 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

I Believe In Jesus Christ

"I Believe" Series

June 11th, 2017 - 1st Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

I Believe In God

"I Believe" Series

June 4th, 2017 - Pentecost Sunday

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Acts 2:1-21 and Genesis 1:26-2:3
 

The Bible begins with these words in the book of Genesis, “In the beginning God….” God always was, always is, and always will be.

That is what we believe. What does that mean for me and who I am? Belief in God is not just something I say but it is a way of life. I am created in his image and that means I am supposed to reflect who God is in my life. Pentecost reveals a lot about the traits of God that should be reflected in my life. What or who does my life reflect?

Fast Freedom

May 28th, 2017

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Luke 14:25-35

May we, as children of a merciful God and residents of this great nation, be ever on guard against taking our freedoms for granted.

The price at which they were obtained is far too great. Equally important, however, is that we understand and live into the gift of freedom as God intended. In Luke 14, Jesus flips traditional thought on its head, reminding us that freedom is not only obtained at a cost, but maintained and enjoyed at a cost as well. Freedom in Christ is known only by those who are constantly vigilant against the sneaky shackles of this world.

Bones as They Should Be

"Bones" Series

May 21st, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:9-10, 21-28

The body put back together is nothing until it is filled with the breath of God.

When the physical body is filled with the breath, Spirit, Ruach, of God, then and only then are we truly alive as God’s people. Ruach is the Hebrew word meaning breath, Spirit, or wind. It is the same word used when God created Adam. God breathes his breath into Adam and he is alive. When we are alive with and for the breath of God, we are alive. When you are all put together are your bones as they should be in God’s eyes? Are you really alive or just a pile of bones standing up?

These Bones Will Rattle

"Bones" Series

May 14th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:7-8, 15-20

The minute that Ezekiel does what God commands him to do the bones start to rattle.

It was God working through Ezekiel that made those bones rattle. Sometimes we are the ones who need our bones rattled again. We are hoping they will rattle enough to bring us back to life in Christ. Sometimes God will use us – will work through us – to help someone else’s bones rattle. At RRUMC we want to always hear the rattle of dried up bones coming back to life. Sometimes that rattling is our bones and sometimes it’s the bones of those who have not yet met Jesus Christ in the midst of their story. Either way – RATTLING BONES! 

Can These Dry Bones Live?

"Bones" Series

May 7th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:3-6, 12-14

Can these bones live again?

God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live again. God already knows the answer. God wants to know what is on Ezekiel’s heart. Do you believe the bones can live again? Is God powerful enough to bring those bones back to life? Do you realize that you can and should play a part in helping those bones come back to life? Do you believe that your God is powerful enough to bring your dried up bones back to life? What do you believe?