First Sermons

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First Sermons

Listen to sermons from First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida.

2 DAYS AGO

Say YES! The Power of Generosity

When the world around you is constantly saying no, maybe it’s time to say yes. Open your heart to giving and see what saying yes will change in you and the world. In this Sermon Series, we explore how scripture speaks about generosity, including how followers of Jesus are to practice generosity. By practicing generosity, followers of Jesus learn what generosity is and what it does for us when we say, YES! Verse 29 of Matthew 25 says “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Christ’s light shines through us so that our lives will make a positive difference in the world. This is a basic truth about who we are. But if we never use what God has given us to make an impact in our spheres of influence, then we’re not living as God calls us to live. This truth is illustrated quite literally in the story of the bags of gold (or talents). The master gives each person resources and comes back to see what they did with what they had. This week we will talk about what generosity does for us. Generosity allows us to say yes to making a difference with all that we have been given.

15 min
3 NOV

Say YES! The Power of Generosity

When the world around you is constantly saying no, maybe it’s time to say yes. Open your heart to giving and see what saying yes will change in you and the world. In this Sermon Series, we explore how scripture speaks about generosity, including how followers of Jesus are to practice generosity. By practicing generosity, followers of Jesus learn what generosity is and what it does for us when we say, YES! Verses 46-47 of Acts 2 says “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” The earliest communities of Jesus followers were radical because they refused to live solely as individuals. Instead, they lived for the good of others as well. The concerns of one were the concern of all, the needs of one were the needs of all. And it was giving; it was generosity that made this possible. Generosity helped them live out Jesus’ command to care for one another, support one another, bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2). For disciples, generosity is more than an act; it’s a value and lifestyle. Generosity is a way of saying yes to others.

15 min
27 OCT

Sing Spiritually - Pastor's Pick

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series explores and challenges us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. This sermon is based on one of Pastor Harold's favorite hymns.

20 min
20 OCT

Sing Spiritually - Pastor's Pick

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series explores and challenges us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. This sermon is based on one of Pastor Beth's favorite hymns "Be Thou My Vision". Verses 6 and 7 of Proverbs 3 says "Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all."

18 min
6 OCT

Serve Impactfully

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series will explore and challenge us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. Verse 40 of Matthew 25 says “And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” God invites us to partner in God’s mission of love. As Wesleyan Christians, therefore, we assume the Christlike posture of a servant. We keep our eyes open to God’s activity around us and join in the practice of shalom—acts of compassion and justice in the peaceable reign of Christ.

15 min
29 SEPT

Embrace Widely

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series will explore and challenge us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. Verse 20 of Luke 15 says "So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him." We are called to be a people of wide embrace. Our love of the “other” is rooted in God’s love for us. We seek, as Wesleyans, to love others as we have been loved in Christ. We acknowledge that not all people think alike but believe all can love alike.

18 min
22 SEPT

Love Actively

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series will explore and challenge us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. Verse 28 of Mark 12 says "One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?" In the Wesleyan tradition, we believe it is important to translate faith into loving action. Faith without works is dead. We view the Christian life as a dynamic journey rooted in a faith that works by love, leading to holiness of heart and life - active love of God and neighbor.

25 min
15 SEPT

Read Faithfully

Life in Christ, from a Wesleyan perspective, involves growth in grace and love. Our lives are rooted in God’s unbounded love and transformed by God’s universal grace. The Christian journey entails the restoration of God’s image in our lives and growth into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor. This series will explore and challenge us to embrace six practices that will deepen our personal discipleship and expand the positive impact of our Christ-centered congregation. Verses 16 and 17 of 2 Timothy 3 says "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another- showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." As Wesleyan Christians we are rooted in scripture. The Bible is both the source of our faith and the measure of our spiritual authenticity. We embrace a dynamic, not a static view of scripture. The Bible becomes the living Word as we engage it under the guidance of the Spirit and are transformed into the image of Christ.

18 min

Listen to sermons from First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Florida.

Channel

First Podcasts
Creator

First UMC - Gainesville, FL
Years Active

2021 - 2024
Episodes

201
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2024 First UMC - Gainesville, FL
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First Sermons

Music

Music

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