North Raleigh United Methodist Church Podcast

North Raleigh United Methodist Church
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

Behind the Scenes is your all-access pass to the heart of ministry at North Raleigh United Methodist Church. We publish the Sermons for easy listening each week. Each "Behind the Scenes" Podcast episode takes you beyond Sunday morning with behind-the-scenes insights, theological reflections, and sermon previews that bring Scripture to life.  Whether you’re looking to deepen your faith, explore the "why" behind our worship, or get a sneak peek at what’s coming next, this podcast is your companion for thoughtful conversations and spiritual growth. Tune in as we journey together, asking big questions and discovering God at work in our everyday lives. 

  1. 10h ago

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: The Sabbath, God's Gift to Us; (Mark 2:23-3:6)

    In this episode of Behind the Scenes, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Rev. Kevin Johnson to explore the Sabbath as God’s gift to us. As we enter Labor Day weekend, Kevin and Kevin talk about why God commands us to rest and what that commandment means in a world that never seems to slow down. Looking at Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Mark 2:23-3:6, they unpack Jesus’ reminder that “the Sabbath was created for humans” and consider how we can recover a healthy rhythm of rest, worship, connection, and renewal. Why has Sabbath become so difficult to practice? How has technology changed our relationship with work and rest? And what might it look like to intentionally create Sabbath in our lives today? This conversation challenges us to consider whether busyness has become a badge of success and invites us to rediscover the freedom of knowing that we are more than what we produce or accomplish. Sabbath isn't meant to be another burden or a list of rules. It is a gift from God, inviting us to stop, breathe, worship, enjoy the people and world around us, and trust that everything does not depend on us. Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:23-3:6 (CEB) Series: The Sabbath, God’s Gift to Us Guest: Rev. Kevin Johnson Host: Kevin Van Hall Subscribe to Behind the Scenes from North Raleigh United Methodist Church for weekly conversations that go deeper into Sunday's scripture and sermon, helping you connect faith with everyday life.

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: The Sabbath, God's Gift to Us; (Mark 2:23-3:6)

  2. 16h ago

    Sermon: Here I Am Lord

    Here I Am | Rev. Laura Johnson | Exodus 3:1-12 What does God’s calling feel like? In this sermon, Rev. Laura Johnson explores the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3:1-12 and invites us to consider how God may be calling each of us in this season of our lives. While Moses receives an unmistakable call from God, complete with a burning bush and a voice calling his name, Laura reflects on how our own experiences of calling are often much less dramatic—and sometimes much more persistent. Moses responds, “Here I am,” before he even knows what God is about to ask of him. But when God sends him back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of slavery, Moses immediately begins offering reasons why he isn't the right person for the job. His story reminds us that feeling unprepared, inadequate, or afraid doesn't mean we aren't called. Laura shares from her own journey of calling to ministry, including the “burning” she first felt as a young teenager and the years it took before she could confidently say, “Here I am, Lord.” She reminds us that calling isn't only for pastors or church leaders. Every one of us is called to use our unique gifts, experiences, and passions in service to God and others. The sermon invites us to pay attention to the “burning bushes” around us—the people, opportunities, passions, and persistent nudges that may be pointing us toward where God is calling us next. Sometimes discerning a call means stepping outside our comfort zones, trying something new, and trusting God one step at a time. Most importantly, Moses' story reminds us that God doesn't call the equipped; God equips the called. As you listen, consider the question Laura poses: What does God's calling feel like today? 📖 Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12 🎙️ Preacher: Rev. Laura Johnson ⛪ North Raleigh United Methodist Church Key themes: calling, vocation, Moses and the burning bush, Exodus 3, discerning God's call, faith, courage, spiritual gifts, serving God, Christian discipleship, prevenient grace, finding your purpose, stepping outside your comfort zone, and trusting God.

    Sermon: Here I Am Lord

  3. 6d ago

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: Here I Am, (Exodus 3:1-12)

    Behind the Scenes: Here I Am | Exodus 3:1-12 What does it mean to answer when God calls? In this week’s Behind the Scenes podcast, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Pastor Laura Johnson to explore the familiar story of Moses and the burning bush. But this conversation looks beyond the burning bush itself to consider Moses’ response: “Here I am.” Together, Kevin and Laura discuss Moses’ unlikely calling, his many reasons for believing he wasn’t the right person for the job, and God’s powerful response: “I’ll be with you.” They explore what the burning bush might represent, why God calls ordinary and imperfect people, and how Moses’ story can help us recognize God’s calling in our own lives. How do you know what God is calling you to do? And what do you do when you feel unprepared, uncertain, or afraid? The conversation reminds us that God doesn’t necessarily call the equipped—God equips the called. Sometimes discerning our calling begins with a small tug, a persistent passion, or simply the courage to take the next step and try something new. Join Kevin and Laura as they explore Exodus 3 and ask: What might God be calling you to do—and are you ready to say, “Here I am”? 📖 Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12 🎙️ Host: Kevin Van Hall 🎙️ Guest: Pastor Laura Johnson

  4. Aug 24

    Sermon: Big Answers are Found in Small Questions

    Big Answers Are Found in Small Questions | Rev. Kevin Johnson What can one small question reveal about faith? In this sermon, Rev. Kevin Johnson explores one of the most important questions Jesus ever asked: “Who do you say that I am?” In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus first asks his disciples what others are saying about him. Then he makes the question personal. Peter responds with a bold confession: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” But this question isn't just for Peter. At some point in every faith journey, we are invited to wrestle with it for ourselves. Rev. Johnson reflects on why we don't have to have all the answers before coming to Jesus. God is already at work in our lives, drawing us closer through what United Methodists call prevenient grace—God's grace that reaches for us before we even know how to reach back. This message also explores what it means to confess Jesus as more than a source of comfort or a casual part of our lives. If Jesus is truly Lord, that confession shapes how we live. And Jesus doesn't simply ask us to say the right words; he calls the church to become his body in the world, showing others what God's kingdom looks like through the way we live together. Through Peter's confession, the power of the church, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, this sermon invites us into a deeper question: Who do you say Jesus is—and how does your life answer that question? 📖 Scripture: Psalm 124; Matthew 16:13-20 🎙️ Preacher: Rev. Kevin Johnson Key themes: questions and faith, who do you say I am, Peter's confession, Jesus the Messiah, Matthew 16, Christian discipleship, prevenient grace, United Methodist faith, the church, Holy Spirit, spiritual growth, following Jesus, Christian community, and living out your faith.

  5. Aug 24

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: Small Things, Big Impact; Who do you say I am? (Mat 16:13-20)

    North Raleigh United Methodist Church Podcast

  6. Aug 18

    Sermon: Big Power Lives in Small Words

    North Raleigh United Methodist Church Podcast

  7. Aug 11

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: Small Things, Big Impact; Clean and Unclean (Mat 15:1-20)

    Behind the Scenes: Big Power Lives in Small Words What can our words reveal about the state of our hearts? In this week’s Behind the Scenes podcast, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Pastor Laura Johnson to explore Matthew 15:10-20 and Jesus’ challenging teaching about what truly makes us “clean” or “unclean.” Kevin and Laura unpack Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees, the tension between religious tradition and the heart of God, and why Jesus shifts the focus from outward rules to what is happening within us. They also talk about the surprising power of our words—how something that seems small can have a profound impact on others and reveal what’s happening in our own hearts. As part of our Small Things, Big Impact series, this conversation asks an important question: What do the words we speak tell us about the state of our hearts? Listen in as Kevin and Laura dig deeper into the Scripture behind this week’s sermon and consider what it means to live a life shaped not by rules and restrictions, but by love, service, kindness, generosity, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. 📖 Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20; Ephesians 4:29–5:2 🎙️ Host: Kevin Van Hall 🎙️ Guest: Pastor Laura Johnson

    Podcast: Behind the Scenes: Small Things, Big Impact; Clean and Unclean (Mat 15:1-20)

  8. Aug 11

    Sermon: Big Faith Starts with Small Steps

    Big Faith Begins with a Small Step | Rev. Beth Hood What do you do when you don’t know what to do? In this sermon, Rev. Beth Hood explores the story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33 and invites us to consider how fear can either paralyze us or propel us toward Jesus. Peter takes one small step out of the boat when Jesus says, “Come.” For a moment, his faith carries him across the water—but when he becomes distracted by the wind and waves, he begins to sink. Yet sinking isn't the end of Peter's story. Jesus reaches out, catches him, and reminds us that even our moments of doubt and fear do not put us beyond God's care. Rev. Hood encourages us to think about the small steps of faith we can take in our own lives: reading one verse of Scripture, praying one simple prayer, giving a little more generously, asking for help, or stepping into a new opportunity to serve. God rarely gives us the whole map, but God does show us God's presence. We are never alone in the storm. Drawing from her own experience weathering Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, Rev. Hood also reflects on how stepping into places of need can become opportunities to experience and share the hands and feet of Jesus. When one person takes a courageous step toward Jesus, that faith can inspire and strengthen an entire community. Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33; Romans 10:5-15 Preacher: Rev. Beth Hood, Assistant to the Bishop for the Office of Clergy Life Key themes: faith, fear, taking a step of faith, Peter walking on water, trusting Jesus, doubt, courage, Christian discipleship, prayer, spiritual growth, God's presence, community, hope, and following Jesus. Listen as we consider the question: What is one small step you can take toward Jesus?

    Sermon: Big Faith Starts with Small Steps
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Behind the Scenes is your all-access pass to the heart of ministry at North Raleigh United Methodist Church. We publish the Sermons for easy listening each week. Each "Behind the Scenes" Podcast episode takes you beyond Sunday morning with behind-the-scenes insights, theological reflections, and sermon previews that bring Scripture to life.  Whether you’re looking to deepen your faith, explore the "why" behind our worship, or get a sneak peek at what’s coming next, this podcast is your companion for thoughtful conversations and spiritual growth. Tune in as we journey together, asking big questions and discovering God at work in our everyday lives. 

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