Sermons – Page 6 – Asbury United Methodist Church

“Football Sunday 2020” Sermon

Asbury Communications Stand-Alone Sermons February 2, 2020

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On Football Sunday 2020, players from the season’s championship teams as well as other pro-football players will share the love and truth of Jesus through video testimonies. Invite your co-workers, friends, and neighbors to church to experience Football Sunday. Over 5,000 churches will be participating in football Sunday. This exciting presentation about the move of God in the lives of professional football players gives us a great opportunity to discuss Jesus in a way that’s relevant to our culture today.

Due to licensing restrictions, the 2020 Football Sunday message is not available for replay.

“A New Year, A New You” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series January 12, 2020

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It’s a new year, which means new resolutions and a fresh opportunity to make some changes in your life. Normally, your resolutions include a list of things you want to do. Instead, let’s take a moment to focus on the person you want to be.

January 12 // A Different Approach // Nehemiah 1:4-6

Traditionally, the new year is a season of self-absorption. It’s all about what we can do to make ourselves better people. But we tend to forget that the people we respect the most didn’t devote their lives to becoming the best versions of themselves. They devoted their lives to making a difference in the world . . . or in someone’s world. What if we took a different approach to our New Year resolutions.

January 19 // Making a Difference // Mark 8:34-35

This is the time of year when we become painfully aware of where we are not, who we are not, and what we need to do differently. We wonder how to get slimmer, stronger, and smarter. We wonder how to get out of debt. We wonder how to become better people. If you really want to become a better person, do something this year to make the world a better place. But how do you determine what you should do?

January 26 // Faith in Action // 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

To make the world a better place, you don’t have to quit your job, but you may have to quit doing something. You don’t have to become a missionary and leave the country, but you may have to leave your comfort zone. You don’t have to give all of your money, but you may have to give a percentage. That’s because your devotion to God is authenticated by love for others and love for others will cost you some life.

“Black and White” Sermon

Asbury Communications Stand-Alone Sermons January 5, 2020

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Working against racism is part of what it means to call Jesus Lord and Savior. Most of us don’t need to make speeches. We need to make friends. This is the core message of Black and White: racism can be disrupted by relationships. If you will risk forging friendships with those who do not look like you, it will change the way you see the world, and that could change the world. Join us this week as we hear from the authors of the book John Hambrick and Teesha Hadra.

Learn more about the book and its authors at the publisher’s website.

“The Other Baby Jesus Story” Sermon

Asbury Communications Stand-Alone Sermons December 29, 2019

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December 29, 2019 // The Other Baby Jesus Story // Luke 2:21-40

Most of us are familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus. But there’s another story about Jesus as a baby that teaches us a lesson about faithfulness.

“A Hallmark Movie Christmas” Christmas Eve 2019 Sermon

Asbury Communications Advent/Christmas, Christmas Eve, Stand-Alone Sermons December 24, 2019

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December 24, 2019 // A Hallmark Movie Christmas // Luke 2:1-8

We all long for that perfect Hallmark movie Christmas. But too many times our Christmas is filled with stress and anxiety. Don’t let stress and anxiety control your Christmas and your life – there is hope! In this message, we will find the message of hope in some of the traditional Christmas symbols. It’s through those symbols that you will be reminded that God is for you.

“Christmas Playlist” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Advent/Christmas, Sermon Series December 11, 2019

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God is with us – in answered promises, realized dreams, and refreshed hope. How could we help but sing? In this series, we will explore the songs born from our joy that Christ has entered the world.

December 1, 2019 // O Holy Night // Lamentations 3:20-26

“A thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices.
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.”
If you were to describe the climate of our collective lives today, you’d be hard-pressed to find 2 words that can more accurately summarize us than “weary world”! Many people today can relate to that phrase. But the song also reminds us that you can still experience hope even if there’s a weary world in you. You can experience a thrill of hope and inside your weary world you will find the faith to rejoice, why? Because even in the chaos of this night, there is a new and glorious morn. The next day when the sun comes up, the Savior has been born, and on the new and glorious morn everything is different because a day with Christ can change everything.

December 8, 2019 // O Come, All Ye Faithful // Luke 2:10-11

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!”
During the Christmas season, we can feel anything but faithful and joyful and triumphant. In fact, many times we may feel weary and burdened. But the good news is that Jesus calls the weary and burdened. And if we answer that call, Jesus can help us to become more faithful.

December 15, 2019 // O Little Town of Bethlehem //

The carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is really an evangelistic prayer. “Evangel” means “good tidings” and the carol is a song of “good tidings,” the “best news,” that Christ has come into the world in order to redeem it. What does this great news mean to you this season? How does this news compare to the rest of the news you are hearing? With what words and in what ways will you share this good news with someone who needs to hear it this week?

No Small Group Questions for this week.

December 22, 2019 // O Come, O Come Emmanuel // Matthew 1:18-25

“O Come O Come, Emmanuel.”
Emmanuel means: God with us. God is with you, God was with you, God will be with you. And that’s the best news ever. But does that make a difference in our lives? Our we living our lives like God is with us? There’s no question that God is with you. The real question is: Are you with God?

“The Bible for Grown-Ups” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series November 24, 2019

As children, many of us received a leather-covered book full of long words and difficult names we couldn’t pronounce. We were told everything in it was true and we should do our best to abide by its teachings. Then we grew up. What was oh-so-simple then is… well, it’s not simple. Perhaps that’s because we were taught Bible stories but not the story of the Bible.

November 3, 2019 // Last Things First // Luke 1:1-4

Most of us know some Bible stories, but very few of us know the story of the Bible. And you may be surprised to discover it’s a story that doesn’t actually begin in the beginning. It begins with the accounts of a few men who sat down to record the death and resurrection of Jesus. It begins with the words of his followers who were compelled to document the events that had changed everything for them – because they knew it could change everything for us.

November 10, 2019 // In the Beginning // Genesis 1:1-5

“In the beginning . . . ” can be a loaded phrase – one that forces us into debate and doubt. But maybe we’re missing the point of Genesis 1:1 – a point Moses made to a world where the violence and injustice of the gods justified and legitimized the violence and injustice of human rulers. Moses introduced a radically different, unparalleled, and untested worldview.

November 17, 2019 // The Old Testament // Isaiah 53:5-11

The Old Testament chronicles God’s redemptive, sequential activity in history. It’s a fabulous, gritty, epic history of the Hebrew people in which, over and over, Israel is reminded that they are a divine means to an end. So, maybe instead of seeing the Old Testament as a spiritual guidebook or a storyline that needs to be tidied up, we should see it as something even better: the history of God preparing the world for a Savior.

November 24, 2019 // For the World // 1 Corinthians 15:1-7

The Bible did not create Christianity. Christianity is the result of an event (the Resurrection) that created a movement (the church) that produced sacred and reliable texts that were collected and bound into a book (the Bible). But how do we approach not being at peace with everything we read in the Bible? Paul—the apostle, Pharisee, author, preacher, and church planter—offers us clarity and confidence to move forward.

“Smart Money” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series October 13, 2019

On Wall Street the term “smart money” is the money that is being controlled by financial professionals. The populace perceives that the smart money is invested by those with a fuller understanding of the market or with information that a regular investor cannot access. Most of us aren’t professional money managers but we do have the best instructor when it comes to turning our financial resources into smart money. You might be shocked to find out that what Jesus said about our money 2,000 years ago is still the best advice we can get today.

October 13, 2019 // The Heart of the Matter // Luke 16:1-13

Does our money add meaning to our lives or is it the meaning of our lives? If you choose to live for yourself, you’ll only have yourself to show for it. This week, we will look at a question that will help us discover how to use our money to add meaning to our lives.

October 20, 2019 // Flip the Script // Matthew 6:22-24

Are you mastering your money or being mastered by it? Maybe it’s time to flip the script. Instead of striving to have enough money to satisfy a me-first appetite, Jesus’ smart money strategy encouraged his listeners to have an others-first approach. When we have an others-first approach with our money, we practice self-control and self-denial. When we do that, we can find ourselves living in sync with our heavenly Father, who wants us to not be mastered by our money.

October 27, 2019 // A Clear Objective // 1 Chronicles 29:10-14

It’s easier to keep track of something than to catch up with it. That’s especially true of our money. If we lose track of our money we lose our peace of mind. Regardless of our income, we should pay close attention to where our money goes. Not because we have to, but because it’s in our best interests to. If we don’t – to borrow a phrase from Jesus – we likely will fall into the rut of storing up for ourselves treasure on earth. And that could very well become a source of embarrassment later. We should all be knowing where our Master’s money is going.

“Communion for the Saints and the Rest of Us Too!” Sermon

Asbury Communications Stand-Alone Sermons October 6, 2019

October 6, 2019 // Communion for the Saints and the Rest of Us Too! // 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Christians can sometimes be accused of having an intellectualized faith, but we are also called to “practice” our faith, most importantly, by participating in a shared table. Does this practice of Christian faith still have relevance in our digital age? How might you deepen your practice and understanding of Holy Communion?

“Laity Involved in Mission” (Laity Sunday 2020)

Asbury Communications Stand-Alone Sermons September 29, 2019

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September 29, 2019 // Laity Involved in Mission

Laity Sunday is a day when the lay members of the congregation fully plan and lead worship. This Laity Sunday, Kevin Bruce, an Asbury mission partner in Ecuador, shared the story of the ministry he and his wife, Kathy, share with the Awa people around the town of Palmira.

There is no video archived from this service.

“Proud of It” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series September 8, 2019

There’s something that rises up in each of us. It keeps us from apologizing, admitting we’re wrong, or showing weakness. It keeps us from forgiving. It causes us to lie about our pasts, to cheat instead of lose, and to feel happy when someone else fails. It stands in the way not only of our relationships with other people, but our relationship with God.

September 8, 2019 // Look at Me // Philippians 2:7-8

There is a sin that is so common to the human experience, it is the gateway to all other sins. It promises to make us bigger, better, and more important, but only makes us smaller and meaner. It strips us of our capacity to connect with others. It stands between us and our heavenly Father. So what it is? How can we get rid of it?
Pride crowds out other people. It crowds out God. Pride is a prison. Saying no to pride is saying yes to God. Root out the pride in your life. Kill it before it kills you. Why would you opt to follow something that is killing you when you’ve been invited to follow someone who died for you?

September 15, 2019 // A “Three P” Person // Daniel 5:17-20

Maybe you’re a “Three P” person—you have power, prestige, and possessions. You have influence. You are envied. People take you seriously because of what you’ve accomplished, what you look like, or who you’re married to. There’s nothing wrong with being a “Three P” person. But when it comes to pride, “Three P” people face a unique challenge.
When you see someone with less—less sophistication, intelligence, education, money, or influence— you’re tempted to think more highly of yourself. Pause for a moment and tell your pride, “The Most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms.” Remind your pride that everything God has given you is a stewardship. It’s temporary. You are accountable for how you use it.

September 22, 2019 // Audience of One // John 3:26-31

We all want to be friended, followed, linked, and mentioned. We all want to be recognized, admired, sought after, and envied. We hunger for approval. We want applause. We want to be known. But what do you do when there is no amount of “known” that will satisfy your appetite?
Work hard. Hone your craft. Broaden your influence. Build your career. Write great books. Move mountains. Change lives. But in the end, remember who it’s from and who it’s for. The applause of the One who knew you first, who knows you best, who gifted you and called you is the only applause that will matter. Your heavenly Father is the One you want to hear say, “Well done.”

“One Minute After You Die” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series August 18, 2019

Knowing your forever can shape your today. The questions we have about life after death—Is there a heaven? Am I good enough? What if I’m not?— can leave us wondering. But that doesn’t mean we have to live in fear. Discover why our ideas of life after death could change everything in One Minute After You Die, a three-part message series.

August 18, 2019 // Life After Death // 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

The questions we have about life after death—Is there a heaven? Am I good enough? What if I’m not?— can leave us wondering what happens one minute after we die?
This week we will take a look at three things that scripture says happen to us one minute after death. 1) Our physical bodies die. 2) Our soul separates from our bodies. 3) We will face judgement.

August 25, 2019 // The Reality of Hell // 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

We all have questions about life after death and some of those questions revolve around Hell. Does Hell exist? Why would Hell exist? Is the Devil real? This week we will look at what Jesus taught about separation from God.

September 1, 2019 // The Glory of Heaven // Revelation 21:1-4

We all have questions about Heaven: What is it like? Who goes there? Will I see my loved ones? Will I see my pets? This week we will explore what Scripture says about heaven.

“At the Movies” (2019) Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series June 30, 2019

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At The Movies is a fun summer series where we show movie clips from popular current films of this past year along with a message that connects the popular movies with scripture. You probably don’t usually look to movies for life lessons, but take our word for it—sit back, relax, and hear a different perspective on how popular films can point us toward the gospel.

June 30, 2019 // Black Panther

Black Panther is a 2018 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The movie takes place in the fictional country of Wakanda. Wakanda is a rich nation whose technology surpasses all the other nations because they have a rare metal called Vibranium. A young man named T’Challa becomes king and the new Black Panther after the untimely death of his father. However, a family secret leads to his downfall and he must overthrow his cousin to reign again as the Black Panther. So where does this movie point us to the gospel?

July 7, 2019 // Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians is a 2018 Romantic Comedy based on the 2013 novel of the same name. The film follows native New Yorker and Chinese American Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family. Rachel is shocked to find out that her boyfriend’s family are the biggest real estate developers in Singapore and extremely wealthy. The film deals with Rachel trying to be accepted by his family. So where does this film point us toward the Gospel?

July 14, 2019 // Mary Poppins Returns

In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. So where does this story point us toward the Gospel?

July 21, 2019 // Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical drama about Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen. The band reached unparalleled success in the 1970’s but Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, eventually shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music.
Freddie Mercury was the least likely person to be a rock star and in scripture we see God use the least likely people to accomplish his will. Queen describes themselves as misfits welcoming other misfits and scripture tells us Jesus welcomed the outsiders. Freddie let success and fame destroy himself and his relationship with others. Scripture reminds us that pride goes before a fall. With the help of his friend Mary, Freddie gets his life together and reconciles with the band. Jesus tells us if we want to be right with God we need to be right with others first.

July 28, 2019 // Ralph Breaks the Internet

Six years after Wreck It Ralph, Ralph and Vanellope are now life-long best friends. Their lives couldn’t be more perfect, until Vanellope’s game, Sugar Rush is broken and unplugged. But luckily, thanks to the newly installed WI-FI router in the arcade, Ralph and Vanellope now embark on an adventure to find a Sugar Rush steering wheel and save Vanellope’s game. But on their journey, Vanellope discovers a new place she would like to call home and it causes some insecurity in Ralph which strains their relationship. In the end, there is only one thing he can do.

“Bad Blood” Sermon Series

Asbury Communications Sermon Series, Sermons April 3, 2016

Have you ever had a great relationship go bad or a bad relationship that got even worse? What if there was a way to make all your relationships better in just a few simple steps? Join us as we learn how to improve our relationships with others.

April 3, 2016 // The Empathy Lens // Romans 12:18-19

Bad blood can infect any relationship. And the quality of our lives is only as good as the quality of our relationships. Lack of peace about a relationship robs you of peace in your own life. But you can have peace about a relationship even without peace in the relationship. Happiness comes from peace with God, peace with yourself, and peace with others.

April 10, 2016 // A Confrontation or Conversation // Matthew 18:15

When there’s bad blood in a relationship, the easiest thing to do is to let resentment and bitterness grow without addressing the issue. That’s the path of least resistance. It doesn’t make the conflict go away, but it avoids the relational mess of having to deal with the other person. Jesus calls his followers to a higher standard. He says that if we have a problem with another person, we should go and have a conversation with him or her. But why should you go, when should you go, and how should you go?

April 17, 2016 // Shaking Off the Dust // Galatians 6:1-5

The first step to finding peace in a relationship is to repent if you’ve done wrong or to forgive if you’ve been wronged. But no matter how badly you want peace, there are some relationships that may never be fully restored. What do you do to find peace about a relationship when you can’t find peace in the relationship?

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