Welcome to the FUMC Bentonville sermon podcast! Here, you can find weekly sermons by our pastors, lay ministers, and guest speakers. You can see our full worship broadcasts at: https://www.youtube.com/@FUMCBentonville. To let us know you were here, please click or copy & paste in your internet browser: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/a323e932-fb2c-4b10-bad4-a5ad64d462a6
Episodes
Jul 1, 2025
Jul 1, 2025
19 min
Acts 10:9-35
On this Fathers’ Day weekend, what better way to celebrate than looking at this passage that is arguably the foundation for the best BBQ ever! Especially because neighbors can now truly eat beside one another.
Jun 30, 2025
Jun 30, 2025
17 min
Acts 2:1-11
Pentecost empowers everyone to hear the Good News. How well do we do at making space for all of those voices to praise God together? As we open the doors to another service, let’s recommit ourselves to affirming that All Are Welcome.
Jun 17, 2025
Jun 17, 2025
10 min
Philippians 2: 1-16
Philippians is a letter about joy! Writing from prison, Paul describes the joys of following Christ and persevering for the gospel, and the secret to being content in any situation. We know from the letter that the Philippians were facing a lot of hardship (and Paul wasn’t exactly living the high life himself). Paul is telling the Philippians to “hold fast and shine,” no matter how bleak and troubling things look!
Jun 16, 2025
Jun 16, 2025
25 min
Exodus 2:23-25; Genesis 35:1-8
This Sunday marks one year from the tornado, but it is also Memorial Day weekend. Both invite us to reflection on what it means to remember and honor the past, and move forward at the same time.
Jun 16, 2025
Jun 12, 2025
Jun 12, 2025
19 min
Psalm 1: 1-3
Think of a woman in your life who has been strong for you - a woman who has been your strong tower when you were weak. A woman who has cared for you physically or spiritually. Susanna Wesley was that for Charles and John Wesley. She was a spiritual leader and confidant for John late into his ministry. In many ways, Susanna was not only the mother of Charles and John but the mother of Methodism. Who has been the woman of wisdom and strength for you in your life? Let’s celebrate those women today!
Jun 10, 2025
Jun 10, 2025
14 min
Proverbs 3:1-12
Sometimes we think we know where our life is headed. Sometimes life has other ideas. God has a vision for us in the midst of all that we are going through. Philip Mills shares his story of that experience.
May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025
24 min
John 12:23-28
On the other side of Easter, we will look at how things that look like death actually give rise to new life. This sermon will also include an update on the State of the Church, as we are in a season of tremendous growth and loss at the same time, and we will explore what it means to be Resurrection people in just such a season.
Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
18 min
Luke 24:36-53
God took our worst disaster and turned it into our greatest hope. Not only did the disaster have no power; the mitigation of the resurrection transformed our world into something so much better – a life where we are saved by and can follow Jesus Christ!
Apr 28, 2025
Apr 28, 2025
18 min
Luke 23:13-25, 44-46
On this Palm Sunday, we often kick off our service with the celebration of the people shouting Hosanna. But shortly after that, many of those same people will be shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” That thunderous crowd calling down judgment on Jesus is the true storm of disaster. The crucifixion that follows is the destruction it unleashes. Everything is disrupted now.
Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
23 min
Luke 13:10-17; 18:1-8
Recovery can be very long. It can take years or decades in some cases. Often, the most vulnerable among us suffer the longest. In the story of the bent over woman, we see a woman finally recovered after 18 years. In the story of the persistent widow, she keeps screaming at injustice until she sees an end. Recovery requires persistence and constant and inclusive attention.
Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
20 min
Luke 10:25-37
When disaster hits, it is time to ignore those divisions among us and help our neighbors, beyond barriers and whatever the cost. The Good Samaritan models for us how to do that beautifully.
Apr 8, 2025
Apr 8, 2025
27 min
Luke 6:27-38
Some disasters are difficult to avert, but we can take away some of the destruction by practicing and learning how to recover in advance of that disaster. For a life of faith, practicing love of all (including our enemies), generosity, all the things recounted in this description of the children of God helps us navigate life when things do get tough, much like a tornado preparedness kit or chainsaw training does.
Apr 6, 2025
Apr 6, 2025
19 min
Luke 6:46-49
Some disasters never happen because we do the work in advance to stop them. Build your house on solid ground and watch it withstand the coming flood. Faith helps us reframe what could have been a disaster into a moment of strength and endurance.
Mar 20, 2025
Mar 20, 2025
18 min
Luke 4:1-13
The temptation in Luke involves the Devil trying to mislead Jesus into different (ultimately disastrous) possibilities. Jesus is prepared to keep the Devil at bay. But the passage also ends with these ominous words: “After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.” Disaster may have been averted for now, but it is coming.
Mar 10, 2025
Mar 10, 2025
21 min
Exodus 1:15-20
The story of Shiphrah and Puah show two women who were willing to do what God wants instead of what Pharaoh wants. As a result, the Israelites multiply and become stronger. What does God ask of us? To bring 10% of what we have to him. Imagine if we all actually did that? We would not have any issues of funding in our church. None. But while we work to that point, imagine if just 2 of us who are not giving do start tithing? What happens then? And what happens when we start tithing to our relationship with money? We get a peace we haven’t had before. The conference is sure learning that.
Feb 25, 2025
Feb 25, 2025
18 min
Exodus 1:15-20
The story of Shiphrah and Puah shows two women who were willing to do what God wants instead of what Pharaoh wants. As a result, the Israelites multiply and become stronger. What does God ask of us? To bring 10% of what we have to him. Imagine if we all actually did that? We would not have any issues of funding in our church. None.
But while we work to that point, imagine if just 2 of us who are not giving do start tithing? What happens then? And what happens when we start tithing to our relationship with money? We get a peace we haven’t had before. The conference is sure learning that.
Feb 22, 2025
Feb 22, 2025
13 min
Luke 21: 1-4
This passage, where the widow woman gives such a small amount but catches the attention of Jesus for her generosity, will allow us to explore the potential small increases when collected together. What if we gave $2 more a week? $20 more a week? $200 more a month?
Feb 19, 2025
Feb 19, 2025
17 min
Genesis 6:17-22; Genesis 8:14-22
This sermon will introduce the stewardship emphasis in 2025, and how the pairs of animals will multiply and fill all the earth. But with such precious and limited cargo, why does Noah sacrifice animals first thing off the boat? Perhaps there is a lesson in trusting God.
Feb 11, 2025
Feb 11, 2025
12 min
Mark 8:22-26
This story really puzzled me as a teenager when I stumbled onto it. Why did it take a repeated touch by Jesus for the blind man to see clearly? Did Jesus just not quite get it done the first time? Was it lack of faith on the part of the blind man? Or is there a deeper meaning we can glean from this strange “trees walking” tale of a double touch healing?
See our worship broadcasts at: https://www.youtube.com/@FUMCBentonville