Sermons
Someone once said “the only thing constant is change.” Change is hard, but we all go through it in various seasons of life. So how do we get through times of change? In seasons of change, it’s good to remind ourselves who God is and who we are.
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Rev. Dr. Sarah Fernsler was a pediatrician for 25 years before attending seminary and becoming an ordained elder. She served White Haven UMC from 2012 to 2017. In 2018, she was commissioned a United Methodist EarthKeeper where she serves as a retired elder in Extension Ministry. She also serves as a member of the EPA Committee on Native American Ministry.
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The story of the first Pentecost is a marvelous story that many Christians find hard to understand. The Holy Spirit breaks onto the scene with the sound of a rushing wind, hovers like tongues of fire, and a diverse group of people are able to hear and understand each other, despite speaking different languages. Through the local church, God has given us a family. Despite our many differences, we are to be a family marked by unity, generosity, and joy. As we connect with other believers, we find people who will love and encourage us as we seek to become more like Jesus and fulfill His plan to make disciples.
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The unofficial start of summer begins this weekend and people will soon be on the road traveling for their vacations. We all want to arrive safely at our intended destination whether that relates to traveling or our own lives. We all want to get the future right. Follow these rules and you will get there on time and on purpose.
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The Bible was written in an era of patriarchal society. While the women found in its stories have hidden roles, they have much to teach us. This sermon series will uncover the stories of these extraordinary female characters of the Bible, revealing their faith and faithfulness even in the midst of great hardship and disappointment.
In the history of Christianity and our denomination we have seen many women stand up for justice, compassion, and the proclaiming of the word. Were it not for the women leading the way over the years the church would not be all that it is today. We need men who are going to lead the way in the 21st century. But, we can’t do it without the women. So let’s be that kind of church that treasures its Jeremiahs and its Huldahs. Rise up O women of God.
In this series, we are looking at the stories of women in scripture in order to learn a little bit about our own stories. These Biblical stories teach us something about who we are and who God is. Today we turn our attention to the story of Sarah and Hagar which is found in the book of Genesis. But what does that tell us about our story and who God is?
With instructions from God, Joshua prepares God’s people for the battle of Jericho. He tells them over and over “to be strong and courageous.” To prepare for battle, Joshua sends two spies into the city to size up the situation. They wind up at the home of Rahab, who becomes an unlikely hero. Rahab is one of the Bible’s most fascinating and unique characters. Although not an Israelite, she makes daring decisions to follow God, based on the little information she had. Ultimately, she becomes a key figure in God’s redemption story, and is listed as part of Jesus’ family tree.
The story of Esther focuses on the Jewish community that remained living in the Persian capital of Susa after the Babylonian exile was over. The most powerful man in the world at that time was King Xerxes, who was a shallow man who lived his life for his own pleasure and wealth. After an orphan named Esther wins a beauty contest, she becomes the new queen and saves the Jewish people from a genocide ordered by her husband the king. So what do we learn about ourselves from this story?
To be true Easter people, we need to train our hearts to experience life as a gift. Living a life of gratitude liberates us from our tendency to self-absorption, opens us to wonder, and fills us with hope.
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The death of Christ wasn’t an ending. It was just the beginning…
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In a recent survey, 80 percent of Americans say they have prayed at one time. Yet, we struggle with prayer. Does God hear us? Is God tired of our pleas? Do our words seem superficial? Does prayer matter? How do we pray?
Many Christians throughout the world pray the Lord’s Prayer at least once a week in worship. But too often, this prayer is said from memory as a worship ritual without knowing what the prayer really means. In this series, we are examining the Lord’s Prayer to get a better understanding of its meaning so that when we pray it we will connect with God like never before. So what does the phrase “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” actually mean?
In this series, we are examining the Lord’s Prayer to get a better understanding of its meaning so that when we pray it, we will connect with God like never before. So what does the phrase “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” mean for us?
“Give us this day, our daily bread,” is often where we want to jump first in prayer—our personal needs can feel so pressing and urgent. Jesus teaches us to pray first with the perspective of God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and then pray with confidence for what we need to sustain us each day. As we pray, we discover ways to partner with God to ensure others have their physical and spiritual needs met as well.
In this series, we are examining the Lord’s Prayer to get a better understanding of its meaning so that when we pray it, we will connect with God like never before. So what does the phrase “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” actually mean?
We have been exploring the Lord’s Prayer and come now to the line that asks God to lead us “not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” which has led to to some confusion. Is God in the habit of leading us into testing and temptation? We know that Jesus understood the lure of the evil one, who sought to derail his ministry. And Jesus knew that we, as his followers, would struggle personally with temptation and evil. Jesus also knew, as a society, we would be enticed by evil. We need this prayer, for ourselves and for our church, as we seek to follow the guidance of the Spirit and avoid the whispers of the Deceiver.
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever,” the closing line to the Lord’s Prayer, most likely was not originally part of the prayer that Jesus taught, but was added and recited by Christians by the end of the first century. With this shout of praise, we pledge to truly own this prayer and allow it to govern the way we think and the way we live, and ultimately how we follow Jesus into the world today.
When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, he was speaking of the world as it should be. Included in his teachings are his expectations for us as his followers. In this series we will look at how to close the gap between where we are spiritually and where Jesus has called us to be. Each week we will look at specific practices that will provide a roadmap to deepen the spiritual vitality of all Asbury members so we are more fully engaged and flourishing in the Christian life.
Since the beginning of time, humans have offered their crops, their animals, even their children as sacrifices to God. Until…Two thousand years ago—in a shocking reversal—God offered a sacrifice to us. Understanding the magnitude of what God did for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus should elicit a response. But what should that response be and what does it mean for our spiritual growth?
We all believe exercise is good for us, but we don’t always head to the gym or go on a run. But to get in shape we have to exercise. We have to get off the couch and do it. And, isn’t it easier when we have someone to keep us accountable? The same is true of our faith; we can only get so far on our own.
Nothing causes us to depend on God more than pushing through our inadequacies to help other people. When we serve in a ministry we take personally, we experience God’s power and faithfulness.
When Jesus’ earliest followers invited people to come and see him, they weren’t trying to explain something. They were inviting others to experience someone. A living example is better than a lengthy explanation. If people don’t like what they see in us, they won’t come and see with us. But how do we know who, when, and why to offer an invitation?
The Bible contains some of the loftiest and most beautiful verses in literature. Millions look to it for inspiration and guidance. At the same time, some parts are confusing and others are deeply disturbing. If you’ve ever had questions about the Bible, we’d like to invite you to join us for a series of honest and frank messages entitled “The Bible Tells Me So.”
In week 1 we’ll talk about what the Bible is, how it came to be, a common doctrine among evangelicals called “inerrancy,” and we’ll consider what it means to have a “high view of scripture.” In the process of talking about these things we’ll answer the question, “Is the Bible ever wrong?”
In week 2 we will look at one of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Bible: How do we make sense of the violence found in the Old Testament, particularly the times where God commands the killing of entire cities? These stand in stark contrast to Jesus’ teaching that we are to love our enemies.
Many people perceive a tension between science and faith, particularly as we consider the origins of the cosmos, the earth, and humans. Some insist science must conform to the Bible, or insist the Bible must fit with their scientific understanding. Others believe science and faith cannot be reconciled and this leads some to believe they must walk away from science, and some decide they must walk away from faith. To understand science and faith are not enemies, we need to explore our core assumptions about the Bible, what it is, what it is for, and how it communicates, which can deepen our appreciation of both approaches to our understanding of the world.
The issue of whether the United Methodist Church should marry and ordain Gay and Lesbian individuals has been extremely divisive for decades. Unfortunately, it looks like the church is headed for a split which will result in two separate denominations. Why is this happening? The issue is not one of scriptural authority as some would say, the issue is over scriptural interpretation.
The New Year is full of possibilities that fuel the potential for a better future. That’s why we make resolutions . . . even though those resolutions often fall by the wayside. But there’s something simple you can do to make the most of this year. It begins by looking past what you think is possible in your life to what God thinks is possible.
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Focused on Colossians 3:12-17, this Christmas message from Bishop John Schol will remind us that as God’s people we are to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Above all, Paul reminds us to “clothe yourselves with love.”
When Christmas Day is over, we start taking down the decorations and start preparing to move into a new year. But if we rightly understand Christmas, even though we put away our Christmas decorations, Christmas is not done at midnight on December 25th. That is just the beginning of Christmas. Join us Christmas Eve as we explore why December 25th is only the beginning of Christmas and what that means for us in 2022.
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In 1741, John Wesley preached his famous sermon titled “The Almost Christian” in which he encouraged people to follow Christ wholeheartedly. We should not be satisfied with being almost Christian but rather strive towards being altogether a Christian. In Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience, we will explore how we can make the same commitment to Christ during Advent, connecting our Wesleyan heritage with the traditional Advent themes of Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace.
During this time of year, we sing about ‘peace on earth goodwill toward men.’ But the reality is that it seems like we don’t have peace on earth. There are conflicts around the globe, there are broken relationships in our lives, and there is a lack of peace in our hearts. Our ‘almost’ peace seems far away from an ‘altogether’ peace. So how can we close the gap?
An “almost hope” reminds us that there are brighter days ahead, but we still have to go through the darkness. Like Mary, many of us find ourselves dealing with unplanned events that can turn our lives upside down. So where do we find hope in the midst of a stormy season of life?
An ‘almost love’ is a love that welcomes only the parts of people desirable, or palatable, or easy to handle. We settle for an ‘almost love’ instead of ‘altogether love’ because we don’t allow our full selves to be shown. We do this because we fear that if someone really knew us, we would not be lovable. So how can we move from an ‘almost love’ to an ‘altogether love’?
At Christmas, we instinctively know the difference between an “almost joy” and an “altogether joy.” An “almost joy” is the happiness we find in decorations, sharing cookies, and unwrapping presents we were longing for. But we all know that true joy is something that can blossom alongside frivolity and happiness, or it can flourish alongside sadness and even deep sorrow. Joy is what came at Christmas—the steadfast assurance that God is with us.
Are you ever afraid someone will ask you why you believe what you believe? Do you fear someone might question what you believe? Responding to people’s questions and challenges can get complicated. But what if you were confident you had the answer to the most important question about your faith?
One of the most frustrating things about being a Christian is the questions people ask about what you believe. If you had fifteen minutes, you could answer. But what are you supposed to say in just a few seconds? How do you defend your faith without losing your mind?
If you’re a Christian, be prepared to defend your decision to follow Christ. Be prepared to defend your hope or confidence in Christ. You believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave. That’s amazing! But you don’t have to believe it because the Bible says so. It’s better than that.
What we put first in our life matters. If we’ll choose to put God FIRST, in our living and giving, we can touch more lives, connect greater numbers of folks to Christ, and help the Kingdom of God expand. As a church we’ve experienced God do more things through us this past year than we could have ever imagined during a global pandemic, and we think we are just seeing the beginning of what God is going to do as we allow Him to use us! Let’s keep God FIRST, and see what God can do!
Jesus makes it clear that we need to put God first in all aspects of our lives. But one of the hardest areas to make that happen is with our finances. Although we don’t worship idols like some cultures in Biblical times, we have our own idols that compete with our attention for God. So how can we truly overcome the competition for our hearts?
Earn money. Check. Save money. Check. Give money. Wait, what? Founder of Methodism, John Wesley, outlined three principles for how we prioritize our money. This call of God on our lives urges us toward healthy practices that extend our life-influence beyond what we ever thought possible.
The Apostle Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. In other words, not only should we give to the work of God, but we should not do it reluctantly or out of obligation. Giving is a matter of the heart.
In the world of the early Christian Church, access to written materials was scarce. It was largely oral tradition that carried story and belief from generation to generation. The Church fathers realized this and formulated a succinct statement for all Jesus followers to memorize and articulate as their affirmation of belief: “I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord…” It still stands as, perhaps, the most clear and concise statement of what it means to be a Christian. In “Creed,” we’ll dive into each part of this statement – The Apostles’ Creed – and learn the power that a centuries-old profession of faith still holds for our lives today.
The Apostle’s Creed was developed in the 5th century to teach people the basics of the faith. As you look at the Apostle’s Creed it starts with a fundamental affirmation that we are people who believe in God. So maybe you think that to believe in God requires a giant leap of faith. And maybe you think that essentially, there’s zero evidence for God’s existence apart from the Bible. Is that true? Is there any evidence for God outside of scripture or blind belief? What does that mean for us?
At the heart of the Apostle’s Creed are professions about Jesus. While many would agree that Jesus was “a great moral teacher” or even a prophet and religious reformer, Christian faith attests to these claims and more. He is the “only Son,” “the Christ,” and “Lord.” What do Christians believe about Jesus? Why do they believe it? And why does it matter?
The voices that influence and shape us affect the courses of our lives. Jesus promises that each of us will be given an advocate, a helper, who will be that divine voice of encouragement and strength. Today, we call that voice, the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle’s Creed tells us to believe in the holy catholic church, but what does that mean? What exactly is the church and the communion of Saints? In this message we will take a look at what Jesus intended the church to be and what that means for us.
Jesus did not mince words when it came to forgiveness. How often are you to forgive? As often as it takes.
The resurrection of Jesus has been understood as the consummating act that reconciled the world to God and gave us all a glimpse of the future.
Worry… it’s universal. It’s as much a part of life as breathing. Yet Jesus said: “Don’t. Don’t worry!” Easier said than done… In this 3-part series, we will explore all that Jesus had to say about worry. You’ll discover where worry comes from, why it’s so difficult to overcome, and what you can do to conquer it. In this series we will take a look at an Old Testament story about a man who was challenged with a single question—a question that brought a new perspective to his worries. That question may be the key to overcoming worry in your life as well.
Most of us are worried about something. And many of us are more worried now than we’ve ever been. But worry has been around as long as there have been people. Two thousand years ago, there was so much worry that Jesus addressed it, and He gave us the definitive solution.
Most of us are worried about something. And many of us are more worried now than we’ve ever been. So how do we deal with it? There are numerous books and articles out there to help us manage our stress. And that may help. But 2,000 years ago, Jesus actually said there is a way to conquer our worry.
We rarely worry about the present. What we really worry about is what may or may not happen in the future. And we usually forget what has happened in the past. We forget about how our worries didn’t alleviate our fears. In this week’s message, we’ll learn about a person who forgot about God’s past faithfulness. His worries drove him to a place emotionally, spiritually, physically, and relationally he should never have gone. And in response, God asked him a very important question that continues to speak to us today.
