Kearney First UMC Podcasts

Sermon on the Mount: Humility in Holiness

Welcome to our Sunday Morning Podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Matt looks at the next section of the Sermon on the Mount which contains the Lord's Prayer and a reordering on instructions when praying giving and fasting.  Through these reordered practices, Jesus invites us into the heart of God so that the holiness that God creates in us may be the spark that leads to our transformation and the world's transformation.

The Beatitudes: Salt and Light

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Jo Ellen looks at Matthew 5 and reflects on the beatitudes.  How are you being salt and light today?  How are you growing closer to Jesus?

Sermon on the Mount: Holiness Applied

Welcome to our Sunday sermon podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Jo Ellen looks at Matthew 5:38-48.  She comments on Vacation Bible School starting this week and how important it is for children to learn through play and how spirituality helps promote humanity in children.   She reflects on how she knew Jesus through "the popsicle man" from her childhood VBS experience.  VBS helps children learn and discover who they are in Jesus just as Matthew 5 helps us learn who we are as followers of Christ.  If we have learned Jesus' teaching, we will see life and behavioural changes from who we were before knowing Him.

Sermon on the Mount and the Camino de Santiago Part 2

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  This is the second part of a two part series looking at Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Pastor Matt's experience walking for four days on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.  in this episode, Pastor Matt invites us to ponder the seasons of hardship in our lives and how we equip ourselves during these times.  How might we set aside some things that make our walk harder while seeking to recognize that our walk is our walk regardless of our speed, success, or destinations.  How can we embrace ourselves and our day?  God has the plan for our full relationship with God in which every path we choose can be one in which God blesses and engages with us and we find God.

Teacher: The Beatitudes

Welcome to the Sunday sermon podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Jo Ellen invites us to "read it again!"  Think back to your favorite story from childhood, the story you wanted to hear over and over.  Then think about reading or listening to that story now. How has your perspective changed?
Our perspectives and contextualization changes as we grow and learn.  How we read scripture is the same way.  Read through Matthew 5:1-20 and look for what resonates with you in this season of your life.  Which beatitudes have you resonated with before that you may not resonate with as much now?

Sermon on the Mount and the Camino de Santiago Part 1

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  This is the first of a two part series looking at Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Pastor Matt's experience walking for four days on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.  In this first part, Pastor Matt explores the difference between "Wisdom Literature" and "Rule Books."  Wisdom literature is useful at any point in life and invites continual interaction or pondering where rule books are applicable in specific situations and circumstances.  While waiting for part 2, take some time to ponder what you have been carrying in your life.  What do you need help carrying and are you willing to share the burden?

Testimony and Call to Connect: A People of Healing

Welcome!  In this Sunday podcast, guest speaker Gene Tillotson shares some of his personal experiences in serving the community and a Chat GPT assisted script about why individuals come to church.

Jesus as Teacher: Believing in Us More Than We Believe In Ourselves

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Matt looks at Jesus calling the first disciples and how it show us about being us.  Peter, Andrew, James, and John left everything behind to follow Jesus perhaps because when a system told them they were not enough to become rabbis, Jesus saw them and said they were enough. Jesus believes in us more than we believe in ourselves.  How different would the world be if we treated others like that?

Teacher: In The Wilderness

Welcome to our Sunday Podcast!  In this sermon, Pastor Jo Ellen looks at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  Jesus' temptation was a big event and he needed time to recover after.  When have we had big things in our lives that required us to take a step back, prepare, experience the event, learn from it and recover after?  The sabbath is a blessed time to rest and allow our souls to catch up with our bodies in our lives of hurry.  Do we find ourselves making time to follow Jesus, or are we too busy to follow Jesus?

Jesus in Matthew: The Light is Near

Welcome to our midweek podcast!  In this episode, Pastor Jo Ellen looks at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  She comments that Jesus is the light of the world and we no longer have to fear the darkness. Jesus is God's light come near to us and we can have peace and comfort in Him.