FUMC Bentonville Sermon Podcast

John 3: 1-21

In "Fiddler on the Roof," Tevye embodies the tension between being open to change in our faith and holding fast to what defines us as such a people. We see the same tension in the journey of Nicodemus across the Gospel of John.

John 3: 1-21

In "Fiddler on the Roof," Tevye embodies the tension between being open to change in our faith and holding fast to what defines us as such a people. We see the same tension in the journey of Nicodemus across the Gospel of John.

Mark 5:1-20

"The Phantom of the Opera" allows us to explore the condition of being cast out of society and then confront the tension between breaking those chains or enslaving others as we are.

Mark 5:1-20

The Phantom of the Opera allows us to explore the condition of being cast out of society and then confront the tension between breaking those chains or enslaving others as we are.

Ruth 4:13-17

As we look at the musical "Mamma Mia!," we will reflect on what it means to stand by each other in all times and spaces, and find family in all those around us.

Ruth 1:6-22

As we look at the musical, "Mamma Mia!," we will reflect on what it means to stand by each other in all times and spaces, and find family in all those around us.

Luke 15:1-7

This series ties into this year’s Vacation Bible School. This week will be trying to unravel the mystery in the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Luke 10:25-37

This series ties into this year’s Vacation Bible School. This week will be trying to unravel the mystery in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Matthew 25:14-29

This series ties into this year’s Vacation Bible School. This week we will be trying to unravel the mystery in the Parable of the Talents.

Luke 8:4-15

This series ties into this year’s Vacation Bible School. This week will be trying to unravel the mystery in the Parable of the Sower.

Luke 16:19-31

And now we will look at the Hell we build around us all the time – flowing from the way we treat each other in this life here.

Revelation 20:1-15

We will take apart the ideas we have of Hell that misunderstand biblical imagery or that come from cultural representations like Dante’s Inferno.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Galatians 5:22-23

In spite of all of our divisions, the truth is, we want to be good people. We just need to remember our shared values and agree to practice them.

Galatians 5:1, 13-15; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Isaiah 40:28-31 We get a lot of despair and bad news however much that bad news has always been around. We as Christians are called to look forward into the future with hope not fear. In all of these passages, the blessings are not in wealth power and politics, but in God’s presence with us.

Luke 13:6-9, Psalm 85

The Founders of our nation built a government that anticipates human failure. Our civic life includes ways to pause, evaluate, change course, and begin again. That does not make our nation perfect, but it does reveal something hopeful: we are not trapped forever by every mistake we make. As we begin this series reflecting on our nation, we will explore how this imperfect experiment can remind us of the deeper grace of God — a grace that tells the truth about failure, tends what is wounded, and makes redemption possible for all God’s people.

Esther 4:10-17

On this Sunday, Pastor Michelle will give us an update on this fiscal year’s budget, the budget for the year ahead beginning July, and discuss with us the plans for how we will determine what we do with the land to the west of the church building. We find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances. And when that happens, the call on our life from God will lead us into extraordinary things.

Luke 13:6-9 and Psalm 85

The Founders of our nation built a government that anticipates human failure. Our civic life includes ways to pause, evaluate, change course, and begin again. That does not make our nation perfect, but it does reveal something hopeful: we are not trapped forever by every mistake we make. As we begin this series reflecting on our nation, we will explore how this imperfect experiment can remind us of the deeper grace of God — a grace that tells the truth about failure, tends what is wounded, and makes redemption possible for all God’s people.

Gen. 12: 1-9 (NRSVue)

We are Blessed. Called to respond in Faith. Called to Serve Others.

1 John 5:1-5

John Wesley believed in the radical love and acceptance of all humans. He believed in the Imago Dei. Every person was created in the image of God. This moved him to go to the poor working class in Bristol, England and preach outdoors to large numbers. John also brought recrimination on his ministry in Bristol by being an outspoken opponent to slavery. Bristol was a central market for slaves, and there were many wealthy people who would stand to lose if slavery was abolished. The eighteenth-century world was a challenge for young John Wesley. His spiritual life and his public holiness can serve as an example for us as we interact as followers of Christ in our current world.

Acts 2:1-4; Numbers 11:24-30

On this Pentecost and Aldersgate Sunday, it seems appropriate to revisit our wild, Pentecostal tent meeting roots – remembering when we were accused of being too enthusiastic!