Kearney First UMC Podcasts

Looking Toward Advent

Happy Thanksgiving!  In this episode, Pastor Matt shares a little about the end of Matthew and a brief look at Advent.  The story of Jesus has always been rooted in God being with us always.  From the opening genealogy of Matthew that shows Jesus' lineage from Abraham (and the promise God would make him a nation that would impact the world), to Jesus's Great Commission to the disciples to go into the world, tell all people the good news, and that Jesus will be with us until the end of the age, God will never leave us.

Following Jesus: The End of the Matthew Series

Welcome to our Sunday Sermon Podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at the disciples asking Jesus when the temple will be destroyed, what sign will there be for the coming of God's kingdom, and Jesus' response in the Parable of Sheep and Goats.  It is a parable of vision, showing what being a follower of Jesus looks like.  It is encouragement to have endurance of faith and to keep following Jesus.  Jesus is the sign that God's kingdom has come and we are to continue to be Church for all people.

Thankful For God With Us in Our Struggles

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Jo Ellen shares a bit from the end of Matthew.  She encourages us to be thankful for Jesus promising to be with us to the end of the age.  We may have struggles in our lives, but how wonderful it is to have a God who walks with us.  At the end of this episode, Jo Ellen shares a breath prayer, a type of prayer that has two parts.  The first part is as you breathe in and the second part is as you breathe out.  "God, be my strength every morning...and save me in my distress."

What to Do With What You've Been Given - UMC Sunday

Welcome to our Sunday Sermon Podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Jen Gibbs shares a little bit about what United Campus Ministries does and how it serves students.  She preaches on the Parables of the Talents  and challenges us to think about what we have been given.  God has entrusted us with many valuable talents.  How are we using them?  No matter how many or how few talents one may have, everyone is expected to do something with what they've been given.  When we bury what God has given us, we miss the joy of seeing it grow.  Joy is the reward for faithfulness.

Waiting Expectantly in Community and Looking Toward Advent

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Jo Ellen reflects on the importance of being church community outside the church walls and shares about upcoming events.  She asks "How would it change your life if you were to wait expectantly for the return of Christ?  What do you wait expectantly for?"

Two Sons, Tenants, and A Wedding

Welcome to our Sunday Sermon Podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Jo Ellen looks at parts of Matthew 21 and 22 which is a collection of parables.  It is not enough just to know scripture in our heads and reason it, but to do something with it. Our words need action to back them up.  We can say to God's calling, but if we don't act on our words, they mean nothing.  How can we shape our lives like Jesus if we don't deeply know Jesus?  Where is our fruit and are we sharing our fruit?  Who is our neighbor?

Called and Equipped: Perfection Not Required

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Matt looks at Jesus' instructions to His disciples to retrieve a donkey and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.  In our lives, we may be called to do things that are uncomfortable or result in confrontation.  Jesus equips us to handle these situations.  We do not have to know exactly how the perfect prayer or devotion is said in order to answer Jesus' call.  Jesus humbly enters a common gate to Jerusalem without the display of a grand king.  He walks with us, not above us.  As the people cried out hosanna to Jesus, Pastor Matt asks us to think about what we cry "hosanna" to? What do we cry out to save us and to save us from?

The Greatest?

Welcome to our Sunday Sermon podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at Matthew 20:20-28.  Jesus flips the order of the world in the sense of power.  The world operates with "power over" and almost always turns to oppression, violence, abuse, and control that ignores or devalues the most vulnerable. We don't always see the subtle way power "power over" shapes our lives, hearts, relationships, and our world.  Do we struggle with how to have authority without being authoritarian?
Jesus shows power in service and submission to others with "power under" Christ.  When we embrace Jesus and follow His "power under" way through service and sacrifice, we are transformed by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus gives us the courage and imagination to live into His way.

To Listen and Have Compassion as a Part of God's Healing

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Matt looks at Matthew 20:29-34 when the blind men call out to Jesus for healing.  How are we called to healing?  We may think that we can't heal others in the same way Jesus did, but being the means by which God begins to heal someone may be as simple as hearing and listening when someone calls out, then showing and acting with compassion towards them.

Parable: The Generous Vineyard Owner

Welcome to our Sunday Sermon podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at the Parable of the Generous Vineyard Owner in Matthew 20.  In our western culture, we often finding ourselves comparing ourselves to others.  We look at the work we've done and easily take responsibility when things go well, but may just as easily shift blame away from us when things do not go well.  When someone is having a hard time in life, are we quick to assume they did something in life to cause it?
In the parable read today, who do you relate to?  The vineyard owner, the last hired workers, the all day hired workers, Peter asking what he will inherit for being a first follower?  Jesus invites us into the Kingdom of Heaven so we can live in its grace and generosity.  When we follow Jesus, we discover the Kingdom of God together and see God's nature is not like ours.  Our nature is envy while God's is generosity.  Our nature is to work to get a reward while God's nature is gift and grace.  Our nature is to seek perfection while God's nature is to love us toward perfection.