Arcola United Methodist Church Sermons

Much like Jonah in the belly of a big whale, when we find ourselves in times of uncertainties and despair; when our life takes us to a place that doesn't make sense....what do we do? We pray.

Jonah is a story of the extraordinary love of God. Has God ever called you to do something hard? Have you ever been surprised by God's love and were you open to it? Who taught you about God's love?

As the confirmands are confirmed today, they are reminded that they stand with a God who loves them, a God who forgives them, and a God who calls them out of darkness and sends them out into the world to love others.

Sinner or Saint? Most of us are sinners and saints. Which qualities would you want to avoid and which would you want to reward?

Wall-E is a parable about love and caring for the creation we are a part of. Love is a covenant we enter into and continue to honor even when it is hard. We make the choice every day to love, build up and support one another.

Like the friendship Elliott and ET shared, we are made for friendships. We are called to build those ever yday of our lives and to love without pretending; to rejoice with one another and not to be overcome with evil but to overcome evil with good.

Who do you identify most with in this movie, Edmund or Lucy? Who does God want us to be more like?

As in the story of Cain and Abel, we get to choose what happens in our life, what decisions we make, because we are created with free will.

Places in the Heart gives us a glimpse of what the church is and what the church is called to be. God's vision that all, sinners and saints, will be gathered together in heaven.

The Star Wars story is a story of good and evil. There's a sense of love and forgiveness bringing about redemption.

The Wonder Woman movie is not just a super-hero movie. It is a movie that challenges you and I about how we are going to live; the choices that we are going to make. As christians, those choices are shaped and formed by Jesus Christ.

How do you sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? First there might be grief but acknowledging the grief and then begin to wonder what's next, to experience new things through the power of the Holy Spirit and through relationships.

Field of Dreams is a baseball movie about sons and fathers, paradise lost and paradise found. It's about a call in our lives to go out and serve others and to speak about redemption, healing and reconciliation.

Psalms 146 & 150 are Psalms of Praise. To praise is to recognize beauty, glory, excellence and achievement; to gather together in one group which ultimately shapes our behavior.

Psalm 40 is a Psalm of thanksgiving, confession and forgiveness. A Psalm of being rescued and delivered by a God that brings us up from a mirey bogue, puts us on firm ground and a new song in our voice. What would your song sound like?

A message to all the children: You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

What would be your darkest valley today? What would peace look like?

The Laments give us permission and encouragement to bring the brokenness, messiness and sorrow in life out to God.

There is no place God is not. He is one who knows us completely, who knit us together and shows us a love that will not let us go.

The Psalms exemplifies all of life; from joy to sorrow, from wisdom to peace and from laments to deep trust.