FUMC Bentonville Sermon Podcast

April 26th, 2026 - "Double Vision: Following Jesus" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Luke 9:23-24

Jesus challenges his followers to take up their cross and follow him. But what does that actually mean? Pastor Michelle will dig into this important aspect of discipleship for us today.

April 19th, 2026 - "Double Vision: Serve Joyfully" - Rev. Dr. T. Ray Wheeler

1 Peter 4:8-11
We should all serve God, but in purposeful ways. If we serve the way we are gifted, then we can't help but feel joy!

April 12th, 2026 - "Double Vision: Love Boldly" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Ruth 1:11-18

Love is a choice. Not even God coerces us into love. So what happens when we make that choice? God's will breaks out in astounding ways.

April 5th, 2026 - Easter Sunday - "Double Vision: Lead Courageously" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Mark 16:1-8

The women hear the news of Jesus’ resurrection… and then they run away and tell no one out of fear. But we do know the story. So at some point they must have overcome their fear. Courage is not the absence of fear – it is facing it and refusing to let it stop us.

April 3rd, 2026 - "Good Friday?" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Luke 23:1-25

Why do we call it "Good Friday?" Rev. Dr. Michelle discusses some of the existing atonement theories and the mystery of what happened both on the cross and in the tomb.

April 2nd, 2026 - Maundy Thursday - "Cleanup Crew" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

John 13:1-9, 12-17

Rev. Dr. Michelle reflects on the humble ritual of foot washing and its parallels in modern society.

March 29th, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: Silence" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Psalm 46:1-11 (NRSVUE)

This Psalm talks about the rage of the world, of kingdoms tearing each other apart. Yet within that we find refuge in God, and particularly in the silence, in the stillness, in the opposition to the madness. A good reminder as we head into the madness of Holy Week.

March 22nd, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: Sabbath" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Psalm 23

There are no Psalms that mention the Sabbath, but this Psalm definitely describes the rest and restoration that Sabbath provides us.

March 15th, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: Movement in Nature" - Bill Fernandez

Psalm 19:1-4

This sermon will reflect on how spending intentional time in nature is a spiritual practice. Bill Fernandez will bring the word this week, specifically reflecting on the spirituality of fly fishing.

March 1st, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: Ignatian Imagination" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Psalm 63: 1-8

We will listen over and over to this scripture, with the goal of imagining the space it describes and the relationship with God that it describes.

March 8th, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: Musica Divina" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris and the Music Staff

Psalm 63: 1-8 

Rev. Michelle has a panel discussion with FUMC's music staff about music, worship, and their creative processes.

Ken Weatherford (Contemporary Music and Director of Worship Arts)

Rev. Dr. T. Ray Wheeler,  (Associate Pastor/Director of Traditional Music)

Matt Nelson (Assistant to Music and Worship Arts, aka. pianist, keyboardist, organist, arranger, podcast creator, etc)

February 22nd, 2026 - "Wilderness Survival Guide: The Examen" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Psalm 139:23-24

We will learn about the practice of The Examen, which is an intentional reflection at the end of every day that invites us to reflect on how we have seen God at work in our lives in the day, as well as how we have served God well or not so well. Then we close with an intentional gratefulness and hope for the next day.

February 18th, 2026: Ash Wednesday - "Wilderness Survival Guide - Fasting" - Johnna Kosnoff

Psalm 69:6-13

We will open this series with a discussion on the purpose of fasting. We will remember that it is related to the Lenten season because through it we honor Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil. But we will also look at it as a discipline of clearing away the things between God and us. This psalm in particular makes a good case for a technology fast, as technology has become a tool for people to deride us and divide us into enemies.

February 15th, 2026 - "4C: Contribution"_Traditional Service (Various Speakers)

Genesis 12:1-3; John 21:15-17

We were created to be a blessing to the whole world. As the family of God, we are called to bless and serve each other. And each other means we serve everyone. To do so takes all the gifts at the table.

 

Speakers at this service: Brett Morrison, Marjie Lewis, Frank Paris, Angela Barrington

February 15th, 2026 - "4C: Contribution" _Unplugged (Various Speakers)

Genesis 12:1-3; John 21:15-17

We were created to be a blessing to the whole world. As the family of God, we are called to bless and serve each other. And each other means we serve everyone. To do so takes all the gifts at the table.

 

Speakers at this service: Brett Morrison, Hays Plunkett, Lindsay Goodner

February 15th, 2026 - "4C: Contribution" _The Gathering (Various Speakers)

Genesis 12:1-3; John 21:15-17

We were created to be a blessing to the whole world. As the family of God, we are called to bless and serve each other. And each other means we serve everyone. To do so takes all the gifts at the table.

 

Speakers at this service: Brett Morrison, Emily Long, Brian Lookadoo

February 8th, 2026 - "4C: Conviction" - Rev. Dr. T. Ray Wheeler

Genesis 3:1-7; John 8:1-11

Some think that conviction is about sticking to beliefs no matter what. True Christian conviction, however, is understanding the purpose of those beliefs, and weighing with wisdom what is right and what is wrong in any given moment. This week we see when we fail and when we succeed at such conviction when in one instance we eat of the tree, and in one instance we drop our stones and walk away.

February 1st, 2026 - "4C: Connection" - Rev. Dr. T. Ray Wheeler

Genesis 2:18-25; John 15:1-13

It is not good for humans to be alone. It is central to the human condition to be in relationship with God and with each other. We will affirm that we need connection like we need the air we breathe. Without it, we literally die on the vine.

January 25th, 2026 - "4C: Creation" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Genesis 1:1-5, 24-31; John 1:1-14

This sermon will be a celebration of God as Creator, but also the God who shared that aspect of who God is – creation – with us. And then, God gave us the responsibility to care for the creation that we co-create with God. We are created to be creators and stewards of creation.

January 18th, 2026 - "The Use and Misuse of Romans: Responsible Citizens" - Rev. Dr. Michelle Morris

Romans 13:1-7

We will deal with this passage that says we are all under the authority of whatever government is controlling us. Funny how when a person’s candidate is in power, they are happy to quote this verse, and when their candidate is not, this verse is conveniently forgotten. Yet in truth, this verse shows up in a letter that covertly tries to get people to resist the ones in power. What is going on here?