January 5, 2025 • Pastor Brandon • Matthew 12:46–50
When Jesus is informed that His mother and brothers are outside, He takes the opportunity to illustrate the nature of God’s family. He explains that anyone who aligns their life with God’s purpose and obeys His will is part of His spiritual family. This teaching invites us to see discipleship as a deeper, eternal connection that transcends biological relationships.
Dec 29, 2024 - Why Were You Searching for Me?
December 29, 2024 • Pastor Stuart • Luke 2:41–52
This passage recounts a significant moment from Jesus’ childhood. At age 12, Jesus travels with His family to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When His parents return home, they discover Jesus is missing and find Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Jesus’ wisdom astonishes all who hear Him, and He explains to His anxious parents that He must be in His Father’s house. This story highlights Jesus’ early understanding of His divine purpose while emphasizing His growth in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people.
Dec 22, 2024 - Love without Boundaries
December 22, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • John 1:35–42
In this passage, John the Baptist points his followers to Jesus, calling Him the Lamb of God. Two of John's disciples follow Jesus and spend the day with Him. One of them, Andrew, then brings his brother Simon to meet Jesus. Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gives him a new name, Cephas (Peter), signifying his future role as a foundation of the faith community.
Dec 15, 2024 - Joy in Unity
December 15, 2024 • Pastor Stuart • Philippians 4:4–7
Paul encourages believers to rejoice in the Lord always and to be gentle in their interactions. He reminds them that the Lord is near, urging them not to be anxious but to bring their concerns to God in prayer with thanksgiving. In return, God's peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds.
Dec 8, 2024 - Peace through Understanding
December 8, 2024 • Pastor Stuart • Luke 1:68–79, Luke 3:4–6
In the first passage, Zechariah praises God for His faithfulness in fulfilling promises of salvation. He speaks of God raising a mighty savior from David’s line, offering mercy and redemption, and guiding His people into peace. In the second passage, John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord, calling for repentance and declaring that all will see God's salvation.
Dec 1, 2024 - Hope in Action
December 1, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Jeremiah 33:14–16
In this prophecy, God reassures His people that He will fulfill His promises to Israel and Judah. He speaks of a coming day when a righteous leader, a Branch from David's line, will rise and establish justice and righteousness.
Nov 24, 2024 - Christ our Lord
November 24, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Isaiah 6:1–8
In this part of scripture, Isaiah has a powerful vision of God's majesty. He sees the Lord seated on a high throne, surrounded by heavenly beings praising His holiness. Overwhelmed by his unworthiness, Isaiah confesses his sins, and one of the beings purifies him with a burning coal. When God asks who will go and share His message, Isaiah boldly responds, "Here I am; send me!"
Nov 17, 2024 - Peter
November 17, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Galatians 2:11–14
In one part of Paul's letters, he describes a moment when he felt the need to confront another leader, Peter, about a troubling situation. Peter had been eating and spending time with non-Jewish believers, treating them as equal brothers and sisters. However, when some Jewish leaders arrived, Peter withdrew from the non-Jewish believers, likely out of fear of being judged or criticized.
Nov 10, 2024 - Hezekiah
November 10, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • 2 Kings 20:12–19
In 2 Kings 20:12-19, King Hezekiah hosts Babylonian envoys and proudly displays the wealth and splendor of Judah’s kingdom. The prophet Isaiah later confronts Hezekiah, warning him that because of his actions, Babylon will eventually seize all these treasures, and his descendants will serve the Babylonian king.
Nov 3, 2024 - Moses
November 3, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Numbers 20:1–13
Numbers 20:1-13 recounts a critical event during the Israelites' wilderness journey. The people arrive at Kadesh, where they find themselves without water and begin to complain to Moses and Aaron, questioning why they were brought out of Egypt. Moses and Aaron seek guidance from God, who instructs Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. However, Moses, frustrated with the people's complaints, strikes the rock twice instead of speaking to it, as God commanded. Though water flows from the rock, God rebukes Moses and Aaron for not trusting Him fully and honoring His holiness. As a result, they are told they will not enter the Promised Land. This passage emphasizes the importance of obedience, trust in God’s commands, and the consequences of acting out of anger or frustration.
Oct 20, 2024 - One Body with Many Members
October 20, 2024 • Lakeview Members • 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 uses the metaphor of the body to describe the unity and diversity within the church. Paul explains that just as the human body has many parts, each with a different function, so too does the body of Christ—the church. Each member, whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, is baptized into one body by the Spirit and is essential to the whole. No part of the body can claim superiority or inferiority over another; all are important and interdependent. This passage emphasizes the need for mutual care and cooperation within the church, where each person’s unique gifts and roles contribute to the overall health and function of the community.
Oct 27, 2024 - Abraham
October 27, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Genesis 21:1–7
Genesis 21:1-7 recounts the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah with the birth of their son, Isaac. Despite their advanced age, God remained faithful to His word, and Sarah conceived and bore Isaac, whose name means "laughter." Sarah expresses joy and amazement at God's miraculous work, marveling that she could have a child in her old age. This passage highlights God's faithfulness and the joy that comes when His promises are fulfilled, no matter how improbable the circumstances may seem.
Oct 13, 2024 - Gifts
October 13, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teaches the principle of generous giving, emphasizing that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, while those who sow generously will reap abundantly. Paul encourages believers to give not reluctantly or under pressure, but cheerfully, as God loves a cheerful giver. Furthermore, the passage reassures believers that God is able to bless them abundantly, so that they will always have what they need and will be able to generously provide for others. This text underscores the idea that generosity not only blesses others but also leads to spiritual and material blessings from God, who is the source of all provision.
October 6, 2024 - Faithful to the UMC
October 6, 2024 • Pastor Brandon • Colossians 1:15–20
Colossians 1:15-20 presents a powerful description of the supremacy of Christ. It declares Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation. Through Him, all things were created, both visible and invisible, and He holds all things together. The passage emphasizes that Christ is the head of the church, the beginning, and the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy. It also reveals that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ and through His sacrifice on the cross, God reconciled all things to Himself, bringing peace through His blood.
