Podcast - University Christian Church NEW

This week, Megan explores the story of Jesus calling and sending his disciples. What does it mean for us today to be called by Jesus?

Some mysteries are better unsolved. On Trinity Sunday, Jeremiah explores the mystery God and how embracing mystery can lead us to value love more than knowledge.

On Pentecost Sunday, Megan shares what it means to be filled with love by the Holy Spirit, and how living in love is something we must choose.

How does God becoming human help us to become more human? Jeremiah wraps up our post-Easter series on the resurrected Jesus by looking at the humanity of Jesus on display in the Gospels.

Daniel Hickman continues our series examining the church’s teachings about Jesus. In this sermon, Daniel engages Jesus within the doctrine of the Trinity.

Megan continues our series on the resurrected Jesus through the eyes of the Apostle Thomas. What does it mean that God has come to be with us? And how does that call us to press in toward the difficult spaces of our world?

Jeremiah continues our examination of the person of Jesus by asking what it means that Jesus is Son of God. Is Jesus simply a good teacher giving us a good example to follow, or is Jesus divinely offering us salvation through his life and death?

Our Eastertide series, “Who is Jesus?,” takes a look at the conversations the early church was having around the person and nature of Jesus to help us find good news for today. The series begins this week as Jeremiah looks at whether Jesus is different than the God of the Old Testament.

In a pair of brief homilies, Megan and Jeremiah unpack the end of Luke 23 and beginning of Luke 24. What does the resurrection teach us about preparing, resting, and then joining in the work of God?

Palm Sunday invites us into rejoicing as Christ comes into the Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. As the crowds cheer and sing from Psalm 118, Jeremiah examines that psalm and what it means for us to enter the gates of righteousness.

Dr. Katie Ranum finishes our lenten series with a look at Amos 8 & 9.

Coninuing in the book of Amos, Jeremiah talks about Amos’s vision of the plumb line in chapter 7. How does Amos’s confrontation with the priest Amaziah in the immediate aftermath of this vision call us to be better listeners to the voice of God?

As we continue our journey through Lent, Megan explores Amos 5 and helps us examine what we’re seeking and longing for.

How do we perpetuate and participate in injustice today, and how are lament and repentance antidotes to that injustice. Jeremiah continues our lenten series with a look at Amos 2:6-8.

As we journey through Lent, we’re talking about confronting our sins. With the book of Amos as our guide, Jeremiah begins by discussing the sin of hatred.

We wrap up our Pray Hurt series as Jeremiah dives into Psalm 74, discussing what it means to pray when we’re confused and how we can still discover a God who does good and loves us when our plans fall apart.

Megan continues our Pray Hurt series with an exploration of Psalm 109 as she examines what the Bible calls us to do with our anger when we experience it. Note: This message begins with a reading of Psalm 109, but that reading was accidentally cut off and begins at the end of verse 5.

After a week off because of snow, “Pray Hurt” continues. In this message, Marty dives into Psalm 106 and discusses the difference between shame and guilt.

This week begins a new series in the Psalms titled “Pray Hurt.” Jeremiah starts us off with a look at Psalm 22 and what it means to pray when we feel alone and abandoned.

As we end the Christmas season with the celebration of Epiphany, Megan shares with us what it looks like for God to come searching for us even as we’re searching for him.

On the final Sunday of the year, Megan and Jeremiah invite the UCC community to share stories about seeing the goodness of God in 2025. All stories are shared with permission.

Our 2025 Advent series closes as Jeremiah shares with us from Isaiah 7. This verses, which Matthew later uses to describe the birth of Christ, show us a love that doesn’t look like we expect.

Mitch Lavender continues our Advent series with reflections on real joy. Because UCC’s regular services were cancelled due to weather, Mitch’s sermon was recorded at home for upload to the podcast.

Our Advent series continues as Dr. Katie Ranum shares a message of peace from Isaiah and Matthew.

The new liturgical year always begins with Advent, and the first Sunday of Advent always focuses on hope. This week, Marty shares with the community how the presence of God, in both good times and hard times, produces a hope that does not disappoint us.

The church’s liturgical year ends with Christ the King Sunday and Megan explores what it means for Christ to be king in a nation that rejects kings.

Mitch Lavender closes our series on the communal habits of discipleship with a look at what it means to read the scriptures together, and the dangerous ways we have sometimes abused this practice.

In a sermon in 4 parts, Jeremiah shares how the community singing together helps the church proclaim, reflect, instruct, and praise. (This sermon was interspersed with congregational singing, which is not included in this recording.)

As we continue our series on habits that help form us as disciples, Marty shares how praying together - especially praying the text - can help us be more like Jesus.

What do disciples do together? Jeremiah begins a new 7-week series that looks at the communal rhythms and habits that help disciples become more like Jesus.

As we wrap up our series on our Core Practices, Jeremiah shares how the practice of developing patient rhythms that reflect the life of Jesus can help lead us toward justice.

How does looking back help us move forward? As we continue our series on UCC’s core practices, Marty shares about what it really means to remember, and how confession is deeply tied to it.

What does it mean to seek reconciliation in a world wracked by division? In part 2 of our Core Practices series, Jeremiah shares how reconciliation begins with God and calls us to unity.

What does it mean to be a people of love? The author of Hebrews helps us answer this question in a series of seemingly disconnected instructions in Hebrews 13.

How do we become a curious people? About what (or about whom?) are we called to stay curious about? We look at a story from Luke's Gospel today to see what we can learn from Jesus' posture and practice.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Marty shared a poignant message with us this week, preaching from Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 and Luke 12:32-40. What might God be trying to say to you this week?

We continue our journey through Luke's gospel, giving our attention, once again, to Jesus' powerful teaching and storytelling. Caitlin offered us three questions to take before God in further reflection this week: (1) Lord, what’s one thing I can do (today) to practice generosity towards you? (2) Lord, what’s one thing I can do (today) to practice generosity towards myself? (3) Lord, what’s one thing I can do (today) to practice generosity towards another?

Keeping with our theme of “slowing down,” we take a closer look at Jesus’ teaching on prayer—line by line.

There is always a tension for the people of God between doing and being, between serving Jesus and sitting at his feet. As we take a look at sisters Martha and Mary in Luke 10, we’re reminded that service to Christ can never take the place of intimacy with Christ.

What do we do when it feels like the world has lost its mind and there is no justice? Jeremiah explores how Psalm 82 reminds us to stand with the God who stands with the poor and needy.

Marty Solomon concludes our 3 sermon mini-series with Elijah and Elisha by taking a look at the story of Elisha and Naaman.

Megan continues our mini-series through the books of Kings, looking at the faithfulness of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Whether it’s a reluctant or exuberant faithfulness, both demonstrate a willingness to say “yes” to God.

1 Kings 19 tells the story of what happens after the prophet Elijah’s greatest victory. As Elijah tells himself stories of defeat and hopelessness, Jeremiah asks us to consider the stories we tell ourselves… and the story God is trying to tell.

While the mystery of the Trinity may never be fully understood, Romans 5 indicates that this mystery helps us understand another one - the mystery of suffering.

As we celebrate the birth of the Church on Pentecost, Tyler Chernesky shares a powerful message and testimony about the new kind of kingdom Jesus is bringing into the world.

As Paul closes out his book, he has things to say to us about where our righteousness is found and how we ought to live with each other in our differences. Katie Ranum wraps up our series on Galatians by bringing these questions into our context.

Galatians chapter 5 takes us back to the theme of freedom first explored in chapter 2. Jeremiah shares two ways we can destroy our freedom, and how to walk in freedom well.

Megan continues our Galatians series with a look at Paul’s words in chapter 4. Here, Paul calls on the Galatian Christians to remember who they are in Christ, an invitation that is just as important for us today.

Megan continues our sermon series as Paul continues his letter to the Galatians. In this sermon, she helps us to think through what a life lived in connection with God’s Spirit looks like.

As Paul continues the defense of his gospel, we engage with one of the things that gospel produces - an authentic freedom in Christ.