Indian Run UMC Sermon Archive

Indian Run UMC

The Indian Run UMC Sermon Podcast is all about growing love so more people know and follow the way of Jesus. We believe following Jesus is about more than Sunday and more than “church” as we traditionally think about it. It’s about real stories, practical faith, and hope for daily living. Our messages are rooted in our core values of authenticity, adventurous faith, being safe for all, putting our beliefs into action, and building relational community. Each week you’ll hear messages that inspire, challenge, and encourage you to live a life of faith through love every day—not just on Sunday.

  1. 6h ago

    Where Does it Hurt? | 1 Samuel 1:1-18

    In the "I've Been Meaning to Ask..." sermon series we will be inviting you to think deeper about questions you ask people, in order to make a stronger connection. It's so easy to start and end a conversation with simple pleasantries like "How are you?" or "Good to see ya!". "I've been meaning to ask.." is easy way to start asking more sincere questions. It's something you hear when something has been on someone's mind for a while, its warm and maybe a little nervous, and it shows you care about the other person. It helps to remind you to see the face of God in one another and to listen. Today we will be asking "Where Does it Hurt?". This is good question to ask, not only when someone physically hurts, but when they emotionally or spiritually hurts as well. Everyone of us knows pain, some pain is obvious, but some pain is carried on in secret. Sometimes this pain is easy to describe, but oftentimes its difficult to understand. A healthy way to deal with pain is to talk about it, it's so easy to hide the pain and just continue on with our lives. Plus, we all have the fear that when we do reveal our pain it won't be taken serious. The other person will say to "Look at the bright side" or "At least it's not..." or even "How can I fix this". Sometimes when telling about pain it's not that we are looking for advice or a solution, it's that we are looking for someone to listen, to acknowledge that are pain is real. "I see that you are hurting", "I'm here to be here with you", these words can be the shining light in the darkness that is pain.

  2. Sep 20

    And Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil | James 1:12-16

    In the "The Lord's Prayer" sermon series, we will be slowing down and taking a look at a prayer that has become so familiar to us that we've just stopped paying attention to it. The Lord's Prayer is probably the first prayer any Christian learns. We recite it at funerals and weddings, hospital rooms and at church, even at the dinner table or right before going to bed. But this prayer wasn't intended to just be recited from memory, it was thoughtfully made to have a deeper meaning. So we will take things one phrase at a time to discover what Jesus was really trying to teach to his disciples. Today we're continuing with "And Lead Us Not into Temptation, But Deliver Us from Evil". Temptation is a part of being human, but it looks different for each and every one of us. It could be addiction, holding a grudge, to envy someone. It could even be not speaking up, not caring, not helping when you know God would want you too. We are, in this section of The Lord's Prayer, asking God to Lead Us, To Deliver Us, away from the things that tempt us, like a shepherd and his flock. Again this section of The Lord's Prayer focuses on the word "Us". It's a reminder that not just an individual can be tempted. Communities, Churches, even Nations can be convinced that things that are cruel and dehumanizing are actually necessary and just. So we pray for the Lord to "Lead Us" for the road isn't easy, the temptation is real, but nothing can separate us from God as He is with us all along the way.

  3. Sep 13

    And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us | Matthew 18: 21-35

    In the "The Lord's Prayer" sermon series, we will be slowing down and taking a look at a prayer that has become so familiar to us that we've just stopped paying attention to it. The Lord's Prayer is probably the first prayer any Christian learns. We recite it at funerals and weddings, hospital rooms and at church, even at the dinner table or right before going to bed. But this prayer wasn't intended to just be recited from memory, it was thoughtfully made to have a deeper meaning. So we will take things one phrase at a time to discover what Jesus was really trying to teach to his disciples. Today we're continuing with "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". "Jesus didn't give us words to pray, but a way to live" has been the defining saying of this sermon series. But what is the way of forgiveness? It's a hard word to define, and even if we break it down into "a choice to let go" or "a process of healing" it's not that simple. In the Lord's Prayer we are asking God to forgive us of our trespasses, which encompasses our sins, or mistakes, how we failed to reach the target of what God wants for our lives. We are like debtors asking God to cancel our debts, and He does so willingly. However, the prayer is also asking us to cancel the debts we hold towards each other. To remember that we are all human, and we will sin against one another, and to forgive each other. This does not mean that will will condone harmful behaviors or allow for reconciliation, but that we will choose to no longer hold onto the pain that the trespass caused us. It takes time, dedication, and even a little prayer, but it can be done.

About

The Indian Run UMC Sermon Podcast is all about growing love so more people know and follow the way of Jesus. We believe following Jesus is about more than Sunday and more than “church” as we traditionally think about it. It’s about real stories, practical faith, and hope for daily living. Our messages are rooted in our core values of authenticity, adventurous faith, being safe for all, putting our beliefs into action, and building relational community. Each week you’ll hear messages that inspire, challenge, and encourage you to live a life of faith through love every day—not just on Sunday.