Wesley Church Podcast

Why would Jesus end an entire teaching on mission with something as ordinary as a cup of cold water? In this message from Matthew 10:40–42, we explore how Jesus invites us to see him in the people he sends and reminds us that the kingdom often grows through ordinary faithfulness. The world measures significance by impact, but Jesus measures significance by faithfulness.

In this message, Bishop Beard reflects on Matthew 10:37-38. The biggest lie we often tell ourselves is that being a Christian is easy. Although we know that discipleship is free, it isn't cheap! 

Matthew 10:34-39

In this message, Bishop Beard reflects on Matthew 9:35-38. 

Jesus interrupts the life of Matthew, a tax collector everyone had written off, and invites him to follow. He then interrupts the assumptions of the Pharisees by sitting down at a table with sinners and reminding them that God's mercy is greater than their rules. In the same way, Christ still interrupts our old scripts and invites us to leave behind who we think we are and take our place at his table.

On Trinity Sunday, we explore Jesus' final words to his disciples in Matthew 28:16-20. Standing before a small group that included some who still doubted, Jesus entrusted them with the impossible mission of making disciples of all nations—and promised that he would be with them always. This sermon reminds us that the Great Commission was never meant to be accomplished by our strength alone, but through the power and presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Though you are different every day, the work of God is the same every day. The work of God is not finished until we go to every person and every place to declare God's glory and bring all to him. Matthew 28

On this Pentecost & Aldersgate Sunday, Bishop Beard preaches on Acts 2. 

There's something about "that name." In this message, Bishop Beard talks about John 17. We should reclaim "the name," name "the name," and share "the name."

The glory of God is not something you can hang on a wall and describe. But once you experience the fullness of God, you've experienced His glory. It is our responsibility to share it with others. 

This message explores Jesus' promise in John 14 that we are never left alone. In this message, we reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate—God's presence with us in every season of life. Through personal stories, the power of Pentecost, and Jesus' call to love God and love others, this sermon reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not distant or mysterious, but active, personal, and available today. If you've ever wondered where God is in difficult moments, this message offers hope: you are not abandoned, and you are not alone.

On this Mother's Day message, we reflect on Jesus' powerful promise in John 14: "I will not leave you as orphans." In a world where loneliness, grief, and uncertainty can feel overwhelming, Christ reminds us that God is not distant, neutral, or merely observing—God is our Advocate, always for us and always present with us. Through stories of mothers, loss, belonging, and faith, this sermon explores what it means to be truly known, deeply loved, and never alone. Whether you are celebrating, grieving, or searching for purpose, this message offers comfort and hope for every heart.

A place isn't an address - it's an experience. And when you're with God, anywhere feels like home. 

We all want to know where our lives are going—but faith doesn't come with a roadmap. In John 14, Jesus meets anxious disciples (and us) with a powerful reminder: we don't have to know the way, because He is the way. As we step into uncertain futures, we're invited to trust the One who goes ahead of us, makes a place for us, and sends us out to make space for others.

On Good Shepherd Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus is not only the Shepherd who knows, protects, and loves His flock—He is also the Gate through which abundant life is found. Reflecting on Psalm 23 and John 10, this message explores how we often try to climb over the fence and find our own way, only to discover that Christ has already made the path clear. Through the lens of Wesleyan theology, we see God's prevenient grace drawing us near, justifying grace welcoming us in, and sanctifying grace sending us out to serve. Wherever you are on the journey, the Good Shepherd is calling you by name.

In Gospel of John 10, Jesus contrasts the voices that steal, kill, and destroy with His own voice that leads to abundant life. Like sheep who learn to recognize their shepherd, we are invited to learn the voice of Jesus in a world full of competing voices. Because not every voice is life-giving—but when we listen to and follow His, we discover the full, abundant life He came to give.

In this reflection on the Gospel of Luke Emmaus story, the sermon explores why the disciples walked alongside Jesus without recognizing him. Was it grief, distraction, unmet expectations, or simply not being ready to see? Moving through these possibilities, the message shifts to a deeper truth: Christ is most clearly revealed not through dramatic proof, but through scripture and shared table. When we open God's Word and serve one another, our eyes—like theirs—are opened, and we begin to recognize that Jesus has been with us all along.

Rooted in the resurrection account from the Gospel of John and the outpouring in Acts of the Apostles, this message explores how Jesus prepares and empowers his followers through the Holy Spirit. From fearful disciples behind locked doors to bold witnesses in the streets, we see that the Spirit is not optional—it is essential. The Holy Spirit transforms hearts, produces Christlike character, and equips believers to live out God's mission in the world.

In this episode, we explore a powerful passage from the Gospel of John (John 20:19–31), where the risen Jesus meets His disciples in the midst of fear, doubt, and uncertainty. Through the story of Thomas the Apostle, we're invited to reconsider what it really means to believe—and when Easter truly begins. What if Easter isn't just a date on the calendar or a moment in history, but something that unfolds within us? What if it's not just about the empty tomb, but about the ongoing effect of resurrection in our lives? This message challenges us to move beyond simply celebrating Easter to actually experiencing it—to discover a faith that meets us in our questions, sustains us through life's wilderness, and empowers us to live with hope, no matter what we face. Because Easter isn't just an event… it's an effect.

In Matthew 28, Easter doesn't arrive quietly—it shakes the ground. This message explores how the resurrection isn't something to explain, but something that disrupts everything we thought was settled. If Jesus is risen, then death isn't final—and neither is anything else you thought had the last word.

This episode invites us to see Easter as more than a story we revisit each year—it's an invitation into new life right now. Walking through John 20, we witness the confusion, grief, and wonder of the empty tomb, but more importantly, we're reminded that resurrection isn't just something Jesus experienced—it's something we're invited into. As we reflect on Mary's encounter with the risen Christ, we explore what it means to move from simply remembering Easter to actually living as people made new. 

Greg Porterfield, Greg Hatfield, & Aaron Talbott Scripture: Matthew 28:1–10 Resurrection celebration. Reflection Question: How does the resurrection shape the way we live today?

Aaron Talbott & Luke Amerson Matthew 27:57–66 The day between crucifixion and resurrection. Reflection Question: Where in life are you currently waiting on God?

Greg Porterfield & Jeff Wickell John 19, 11-18, 28-30 The sacrifice of Jesus. Reflection Question: What does the cross mean personally in your life?

Aaron Talbott & Greg Hatfield John 13:1-26 Communion and servant leadership. Reflection Question: Where might Jesus be inviting us to serve someone today?

Greg Hatfield & Hillary Williamson Matthew 26: 6-13 A quieter moment before events accelerate.  Reflection Question:  What is one way we can intentionally honor Jesus today? 

Greg Porterfield & Bishop Frank Beard Matthew 22 Jesus teaching and being questioned by religious leaders.  Reflection Question: How can we live out loving God and loving our neighbor today? 

Aaron Talbott & Greg Hatfield Matthew 21:12–17 Jesus driving out the money changers. Reflection Question: What might God want to "clear out" of our hearts this week?

Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus entered Jerusalem not with power and force, but with humility and peace. As the crowds shouted "Hosanna," they welcomed a king—just not the kind they expected. As we begin Holy Week, may we open our hearts to receive Jesus as he truly is.

Greg Porterfield & Aaron Talbott Jesus entering Jerusalem Matthew 21:1–11 Reflection Question: Where might we be expecting Jesus to act one way when he is inviting us to trust him in another?

Palm Sunday isn't just a celebration—it's a choice between two very different parades. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowd cheers with expectation, hoping for power and control, but Jesus reveals a kingdom marked by humility, surrender, and the cross. This message invites us to consider not just if we'll praise Jesus—but which kind of King we're actually willing to follow.

Ezekiel 37 

John 11:35 

In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, but the deeper miracle unfolds long after the mud is washed away. This sermon explores how the story is not only about physical sight, but about spiritual vision—about who truly sees the work of God and who misses it. As the healed man's understanding of Jesus grows from "a man called Jesus" to "Lord, I believe," we are invited to ask where we might still be blind to grace, truth, and God's activity right in front of us.

In John 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind—but the miracle itself takes only two verses. The rest of the chapter is filled with arguments about what it means. This sermon explores how miracles aren't meant to simply make life easier; they reveal God's vision for the world and invite us to see reality differently. When God changes our lives, it may disrupt the systems and expectations around us, but it ultimately calls us to bear witness to a greater kingdom.

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her something deeper than the water she came to draw—living water. This sermon explores how Jesus crosses cultural, religious, and personal barriers to reveal the heart of God to someone the world considered an outsider. After encountering Christ, the woman leaves her water jar behind and becomes a witness, reminding us that when we truly experience living water, we don't just stay at the well—we go and tell others.

Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is the longest recorded conversation he has in the Gospels, and it happens with someone he was never supposed to meet. This sermon explores how Jesus crosses barriers of gender, ethnicity, history, and religion—not to lecture, but to truly know her. In a world full of opinions, efficiency, and surface-level exchange, Jesus shows us that real transformation often happens through honest, vulnerable conversation that opens us to grace, truth, and the possibility of new life.

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of night, carrying questions, curiosity, and the quiet risk of being seen with him. This sermon explores how every encounter with Jesus is an invitation to change—from the inside out. As Nicodemus moves from cautious seeker to quiet disciple, we are reminded that faith often begins with a willingness to step beyond what is safe, open ourselves to the Spirit, and trust that Christ can transform our lives in ways we never expected.

Jesus' wilderness testing reminds us that temptation doesn't usually look dark or dramatic — it often sounds reasonable and feels justified. While we may never face the temptations Jesus faced, we all know the pull of pride, control, fear, and self-centeredness. This message invites us to use Lent as a season of honest reflection, naming the small daily compromises that quietly shape who we are becoming.

Jesus calls his followers to be salt and light—not someday, but now. In this message from Matthew 5:13–20, we're reminded that participation in God's Kingdom doesn't have to be complicated, and that simple, faithful witness can shine brighter than we realize.

Too often, we treat baptism and confirmation like something we "finish"—when Scripture shows us they are where faith truly begins. In Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism, the water is not the conclusion of his story, but the launch of his public ministry. This sermon invites us to remember our baptism not as a past moment, but as a present calling—naming us, claiming us, and commissioning us to live as God's beloved people in the world.

At the beginning of a new year, we often focus on looking good—but Epiphany invites us to consider whether we're actually looking in the right direction. In Matthew 2, the Magi follow the star faithfully, but danger enters the story when assumptions replace attention to God's leading, while those who knew the Scriptures best never made the short journey to see Jesus for themselves. This sermon challenges us to ask what we're fixing our eyes on in 2026 and invites us, like the wise men, to kneel in worship and follow the light Christ gives—one faithful step at a time.

Week One of Advent: Hope