First United Methodist Church of Kearney Sermons

1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; 1 Samuel 6:1–7

1 Samuel 2:15–36; 1 Samuel 3:1–21

1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 2:1–14

“Well, well, well…if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions.”Does God punish us when we sin—or do our choices carry consequences of their own? This Sunday, we kick off Bible Book It, our journey through 1 & 2 Samuel, and discover what Israel’s demand for a king can teach us about power, consequences, mercy, and where we place our trust.

No storm is too big for Jesus to speak peace into. In the midst of your storms, Jesus is already on the boat with you. He was not worried then, and he is not worried now. Trust the one who commands even the wind and waves.

When we’re mistreated, it’s easy to match someone else’s anger, insults, or intensity. But what if we could develop the habit of responding instead of reacting? This Sunday, as we conclude Atomic Habits, we’ll look at how God can shape not just the words we say, but the hearts those words reveal.

We love convenience. Grocery pickup. Amazon Prime. Food delivered right to our door. We’ll even pay extra just to make life a little easier.But some of the most important things in life aren’t convenient.Community takes effort. It means making room in the schedule, showing up when we’d rather stay home, being vulnerable, and sometimes carrying someone else’s burden. But it also means having people there to help carry ours.This Sunday we continue Atomic Habits and talk about one of the most important habits we can build: community.The price of community is inconvenience—and it’s worth it.

We’re really good at working. But how good are we at resting?This Sunday, we continue our Atomic Habits series by looking at one of the oldest habits God gave his people: Sabbath.In a culture that tells us to do more, produce more, and stay constantly connected, Sabbath reminds us that our worth isn’t determined by what we accomplish. It’s preventative maintenance for the soul—a regular rhythm of stopping, resting, and making room for the things that give us life.Join us Sunday as we discover how small changes can help us build a habit of Sabbath.We all need to work on rest.

Change is hard. But maybe that's because we're aiming at the wrong thing.This Sunday we kick off a brand-new series called Atomic Habits. Together we'll explore what the Bible has to say about lasting change and why transformation begins with our identity—not just our behavior.Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." What if that verse isn't about getting everything we want, but about God changing what we want in the first place?Join us this Sunday at 8, 9, 10, or 11am as we discover how God invites us to become the people He created us to be.

Have you ever received an invitation that changed your life?In John 1, we see a simple pattern repeated again and again: one person invites another to "come and see." Andrew invites Peter. Philip invites Nathanael. Ordinary people extend ordinary invitations—and God does extraordinary things.That's still how God works today.Sometimes we hesitate because we're afraid of rejection or feel like we don't have all the answers. But our job isn't to change hearts. Our job is simply to provide opportunities.Who is on your "St. Andrew's List"? Who in your life could use a simple invitation to sit with you at church, grab coffee, or begin a conversation about faith?You never know what one invitation can lead to.

"The closer we grow to God, the better we love others." Staying in love with God takes intentional effort — just like any relationship. Seek God daily. Reflect His love into the world.

Disagreement doesn't require harm. The Good Samaritan showed us that loving our neighbor means caring for those we disagree with most. As Christians, we're called to be different, known by our love, not our arguments. Do no harm. Love your neighbor.

Disagreement doesn't require harm. The Good Samaritan showed us that loving our neighbor means caring for those we disagree with most. As Christians, we're called to be different, known by our love, not our arguments. Do no harm. Love your neighbor.

Who is shaping the way you think?We live in a world overflowing with opinions, podcasts, posts, influencers, and advice. But Proverbs reminds us that not every voice deserves equal influence.This Sunday we'll wrap up our Pedaling Proverbs series by exploring the difference between the wise, the foolish, and the evil—and asking a challenging question:Who are you allowing to influence your life?"The wise listen to advice." – Proverbs 12:15Join us as we discover how to become people who welcome truth, grow through correction, and learn to recognize the voices worth following.

🚴 Who’s pulling for you? And who are you pulling for?Cyclists know the power of the peloton. Riding together means sharing the burden, conserving energy, and going farther than you could alone.The same is true in our faith."Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." – Proverbs 13:20God never intended us to follow Jesus alone. We grow when we surround ourselves with people who encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and help us become more like Christ.This Sunday we'll discover why the people you ride through life with matter more than you think—and how God uses community to shape our faith.Join us this Sunday as we continue our Pedaling Proverbs series.

🚴‍♂️ It Never Gets Easier. You Just Get Faster.When life gets hard, it's easy to wonder why the road still feels uphill. Shouldn't experience make things easier? Shouldn't faith remove the challenges?This Sunday we'll begin our new series, Pedaling Proverbs, by exploring a surprising truth from the book of Proverbs: wisdom isn't about arriving—it's about continuing to grow.Just as cyclists become stronger through miles of effort, followers of Jesus grow stronger through a lifetime of trusting God, learning, and pressing forward.Join us as we discover why the goal isn't an easier life, but a stronger faith.

What happens when faith becomes more than a checklist?This Sunday, we'll explore the story of the woman at the well and discover a simple but life-changing truth: spending time with Jesus changes us. When we move beyond merely knowing about Jesus and begin truly knowing Him, shame gives way to freedom, faith becomes personal, and our lives become a testimony to others.Join us this Sunday as we learn what it means to abide in Christ and experience the transformation that comes from simply being with Him.

What if we looked at faith through the eyes of a child—trusting, loving, forgiving? This Sunday's message reminds us of the one constant we can always count on: Jesus did, He does, and He always will love us.Jesus didn't come to impress the world with power and glory. He humbled Himself, became human, walked among us, and died on a cross—all because He loved us too much to leave us broken and lost. Philippians 2:1-11 shows us that Christ's love wasn't just words—it was action. He washed His disciples' feet and calls us to do the same.Here's the challenge: Love isn't just something we talk about. We have to live it. Get your hands dirty. Meet people where they are. Show them the love Christ showed us. Because the moments that take our breath away are the moments we share His love with others.Even when you can't feel His presence, trust this truth—Jesus loves you. He did. He does. He always will.

Most of us want to make a difference… but we keep waiting for the perfect moment, more time, or better qualifications.This Sunday we’re talking about the story of the Good Samaritan and a simple truth we often forget: God is not asking you to do everything — He’s asking you to faithfully do something.The Kingdom grows when ordinary people take small faithful steps.Join us this Sunday as we discover what it looks like to “get off our donkey,” love the person in front of us, and participate in what God is already doing. Luke 10:25–37

Today we conclude our “Throwback” series by stepping back and seeing the big picture of scripture: from the garden, to the temple, to Jesus, to the promise of a new heaven and new earth, the story of the Bible is the story of God drawing closer to people.If you’ve ever found yourself asking “How long, O Lord?” or struggling with waiting, suffering, or uncertainty, this message is for you. Revelation 21 reminds us that one day every wrong will be made right and God will dwell with His people forever.

What if your relationship with God wasn’t based on your performance? This Sunday in Throwback, we’re looking at the “new covenant” Jesus introduces in Matthew 26:26-28. So many areas of life operate on performance, penalties, and proving ourselves worthy — but Jesus came to offer something radically different: acceptance through grace. Join us as we explore how all the promises of the Old Testament ultimately point to Christ and the good news that we don’t have to earn what God freely gives.

The Apostle Paul's simple command in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 challenges us to "encourage one another and build each other up." But here's the reality—we're great at thinking kind thoughts about people, yet terrible at actually expressing them. We assume people know how we feel, but they don't. God knows our hearts, but people need to hear our words.The solution? Notice. Encourage. Repeat. Whether it's writing a note, leaving a positive review, or simply saying "thank you," these small acts of intentional encouragement can transform someone's week. The longer we're used to something, the less we appreciate it. So pause today and tell someone what you notice and value about them.Being a light in 2026 doesn't require grand gestures—just consistent kindness in a world starving for it.

David wasn't the people's choice; he was God's choice. He wasn't perfect, tall, or powerful, but he was faithful. God uses imperfect people who trust Him. You don't need to be perfect to be used by God; you need to be faithful.

Throwback: Moses, Limits, and God’s Limitless LoveWhat do unlimited lemonade, endless shrimp, and the Ten Commandments have in common?They all reveal something important about human nature: we don’t do well without limits. We don’t follow God to earn His love.We follow Him because we already have it.Limits are good. God’s limitless love is even better.Join us as we continue our “Throwback” series and discover how the Old Testament points us to Jesus.

God doesn't force a relationship with us—He freely pursues us out of love, not need. From the Garden of Eden to the cross, His grace covers our brokenness. We're free to choose: will we trust Him or walk away? A forced agreement isn't agreeable to God.

Ever had a “Now what?” moment?A new job. A diagnosis. A loss. A new opportunity that feels exciting… and terrifying.In John 21, Peter goes back to what’s comfortable—fishing—until Jesus meets him on the shore and calls him forward. This Sunday, we’ll talk about the two obstacles to faith—comfort and comparison—and why following Jesus means answering “now what?” with faith.Join us this Sunday as we wrap up the Book of John.

Ever notice how some people can look at something broken… and see what it could become?That’s what Easter is all about.Mary went to the tomb expecting grief — but found resurrection.The disciples thought it was over — but God was just getting started.This Easter, discover how Jesus brings new life to what we’ve given up on.Because even when we think it’s over…God isn’t finished.Join us Easter Sunday.He is risen! 🙌

The book of John - Day 40

The book of John - Day 39

The book of John - Day 38

The book of John - Day 37

The book of John - Day 36

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, bringing peace when people expected war. The crowds shouted "Hosanna!" then "Crucify him!" days later. Palm Sunday reminds us: Jesus came not to meet our expectations, but to save us from sin through His ultimate act of love and courage.

The book of John - Day 35

The book of John - Day 34

The book of John - Day 33

The book of John - Day 32

The book of John - Day 31

The book of John - Day 30

The book of John - Day 29

As Jesus moves closer to the cross, one woman responds with a stunning act of love and sacrifice. Her story invites us to consider how we respond to what Jesus has done for us. This Sunday, we’ll explore why a life of sacrifice is never wasted when it’s given to Him.

The book of John - Day 28

The book of John - Day 27

The book of John - Day 26

The book of John - Day 25

The book of John - Day 24

The book of John - Day 23

This Sunday we continue our journey through the Gospel of John with the story of a man who was blind but suddenly could see. Surprisingly, the miracle doesn’t lead to celebration—it leads to criticism. In John 9:13–16 we see how people’s reactions to Jesus reveal what’s really going on inside their hearts. Join us this week as we explore a challenging question: Are we looking for what God is doing, or just protecting our own turf?

The book of John - Day 22

The book of John - Day 21