It's Better When You're Here!

Michael LeBlanc

Listen to the weekly teachings of Shepherd's Community United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Led by Pastor Michael LeBlanc, Shepherd's Community is a church designed for you and your family to connect, grow & serve! To learn more, visit https://www.shepherdsumc.com/

  1. 2D AGO

    The Walk: Week 3

    No one likes to be interrupted. Our day-to-day lives are filled to the brim with things competing for our attention—ads, social media, texts, the news—each one demanding a piece of us. Today, I want to offer a different way of being interrupted. An interruption that doesn’t steal from us, but frees us. One that makes space for God’s Kingdom to dwell among us as we allow the right things to interrupt the way things are. May we be people who are willing to interrupt—for the sake of our neighbors, our communities, and the work God longs to do among us. Passage: Luke 5:17-25 CEB

    33 min

  2. JAN 28

    The Walk: Week 1

    Welcome to our new series, The Walk, where we explore what it truly means to follow Jesus in a way that shapes every moment of our lives. We don’t want a faith that lives only on paper—we want a faith that is lived, practiced, and embodied. We begin with the practice that brought us all here: sharing our faith. To share your faith with someone else is to step into the legacy of the saints who came before us. It is to see people the way Christ sees them. It is to love as Jesus loves. It is, in many ways, to walk as Jesus walked. May we come to know all people—so that all people may come to know Christ. Passage: Matthew 4:18-23 CEB

    34 min

  3. JAN 21

    Mission Statement: Hope

    Plenty of churches exist for themselves. Some churches, even whole constellations of them, exist primarily to serve their members or elevate their pastors. But as we wrap up our series on our mission statement today, we are reminded of why we exist. We exist to inspire the hope of Jesus Christ. This is not a passive hope. It is not a hope meant to sit still or stay comfortable. It is a hope that puts on work clothes, that steps into the world, that serves, loves, and labors for the sake of others. May we be a church known not just for what we believe, but for how we live out the hope of Jesus Christ. Passage: Romans 5:1-5 CEB

    31 min

  4. JAN 14

    Mission Statement: Light

    At the beginning of a new year, I’m especially grateful that we get to pause, set our tone, and ground ourselves in our mission statement: With God’s help, we embrace and connect with all people, and together experience the love, light, and hope of Jesus Christ. Last week, I was pretty sick, and I’m so thankful that Rick was able to step in and cover for me as we focused on the theme of love. He even called me “confetti,” which I absolutely loved. It made me smile—and it also got me thinking. Because no matter how loud the world’s hatred may seem, it’s never louder than love. Love always rises. Love always remains. And love, especially the love of Christ, continues to break through in ways we may not even realize at first. Passage: John 1:9-14 CEB

    31 min

  5. JAN 7

    Mission Statement: Love.

    A few years ago, when the leadership of Shepherds came together to shape a new mission statement, everything centered on one clear calling: to connect people to the love, light, and hope of Jesus Christ. As we step into a new year, our leadership knew it was essential to return to those same foundations—to ground ourselves again in what matters most: the love, the light, and the hope of Jesus Christ. Our mission is simple, but it’s vital. With God’s help, we embrace and connect with all people, and together we experience the love, light, and hope of Jesus Christ. May we be a church that shows up when it matters most— a church that loves in the nick of time.

    40 min

  6. 12/31/2025

    Last Sunday of 2025!

    Join Reverend Michael LeBlanc on our last Sunday of the year!

    13 min

  7. 12/26/2025

    Incubation: Christ Candle

    Christmas has arrived. And that means we are here—gathered together—to remember the true reason for our celebration. The gifts, the songs, the stories, the turkeys—they’re all wonderful. But tonight, I want us to listen more closely. I want us to hear why this season exists. And it’s not just because Jesus was born—no, not only that. Christmas matters every time any of us chooses to keep Christmas well. It matters whenever grace is received, remembered, and lived out. Grace has come. So let us keep Christmas well. Passage: Titus 2:11-15 CEB

    19 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    Incubation: Love

    As we arrive at the last Sunday of Advent, I pray that we have prepared our hearts. Just as the eggs in our incubator have been given an environment conducive to growth, I pray that over these last four weeks, you have been able to grow as well. Soon, we will have chicks—and soon, we will have Christmas. My prayer is that hope, peace, and joy have found you, and that this week, love has met you in a new way. God is with us. May we love like it. Passage: Matthew 1:18-24 CEB

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Listen to the weekly teachings of Shepherd's Community United Methodist Church in Lakeland, Florida. Led by Pastor Michael LeBlanc, Shepherd's Community is a church designed for you and your family to connect, grow & serve! To learn more, visit https://www.shepherdsumc.com/

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