Open Table United Methodist Church

Today we look at the benefits of a life of gratitude - transforming the cycle of despair into a cycle of connection and mutual support. In this moment, we all need to be looking out for all of us.

The Beatitudes are more than a suggestion, they are the constitution of people gathered around Jesus and embodying a new way of life, a new way of being political in this world...

In this world of division and disagreement we are reminded that we are called to love our neighbor as ourself - even the neighbor we disagree with and even the neighbor who is our enemy. This is hard - but its part of the revolution of love. Hold on to love becuase love will never fail.

Do we ever find ourselves limiting God in our minds- what we think God can do, who God is working in, or where God is present?

The great task of spirituality is not overcoming sin, but overcoming our brain's programming for self-protection. Today, Jesus' parable about the vineyard speaks to this, the first, the last, and how to see others as a gift rather than a threat.

What if the Messiah came and nothing changed? What if Jesus' way of debt release was too radical and we rejected it instead of embracing it? This is the world the parable of the unmerciful servant paints - and its strangely confusing. Let's take a look...

How do we navigate distorted desire? Bit longer sermon today as Jason lays out how we recapture a cycle of love and compassion. *As a note - when we talk about "apologizing" here we are referring to those in power - not those who have been abused, marganalized, or oppressed.

In a world full of injustice and pain we must remember that God has no wrath. But then what does it mean to leave room for God's wrath? And in this light, what does it mean to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. There's so much here today!

Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" This question is still reaches through the pages of time to us today. In the face of uncertainty and newness how will we answer this question?

Can our opinions lead to suffering? And how can truth set us free from suffering? As we finish up on series on Philippians we take a look at the whole book and ask ourselves how we need to journey to the other side to embrace the peace of love.

We continue in our journey through Philippians as we talk about what it means to be content in all situations, how we live in the moment, and seeing life in times of difficulty.

When Jesus heals the blind man he is also completely changing the way we understand sin and shows how the religious leaders are in fact, empowering the mechanism of sin through their exclusion of those that are different from them.

There is no wrath in God. Period. When Jesus encounters the woman at the well he puts on full display his message of wrathless love and gives her a new future to run towards. This speaks to us today in so many ways.

Today we jump into John 3 and remember that the darkness we are in may not the darkness of a tomb but may indeed be the darkness of a womb...

Special guest Rob Lee joins us today. Rob is a pastor, an author, and a nationally known advocate for justice. Today he is speaking about Jesus' temptation as we begin the season of Lent.

Leviticus gives us a rhythm of work and rest, work and rest - we call this Sabbath. But often we forget that we have been set free to rest and let others rest and this begins to chip away at our happiness...

What does it mean to have a "good eye" and what role should generosity play in our lives as a community of faith? Leviticus has a lot to say about this...

Leviticus always gives a way back to community but do we? Jesus ensures that those previously excluded can now be included but what does this mean for us today?

In Leviticus God commands the priests to keep the fire going continually. What does this mean for us and how can we live as keepers of the flame?