"God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 16th, 2017 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dr. Bill Kimball is preaching.

I Cor. 10:13 ; Matt. 6:13

We’ve all heard this, and some of us may have said it to others in an effort to comfort them.

But the half-truth of this can backfire when we say it, instead of comforting others it may cause them to feel weak or having a lack of trust in God. We will look at the truthful half, and the biblical full truth to discover the false part of this saying. We will examine the passage in I Cor. 10:13 and combine it with the Lord’s Prayer for a fresh look at the whole truth of God’s word for us when we face trouble or temptation.

"God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 9th, 2017 - 5th Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

James 2:14-20, 26. (God’s Word Translation)

“God helps people who help themselves” is thrown around so much these days.

We even think that it comes from the Bible. That is completely false. It is not found anywhere in the Bible and it leads us down a dark path. It creates an excuse for those of us who call ourselves Christian to do nothing – even though our faith calls us to action. Are you looking for a way out of your faith? Are you hearing a call of God to send you into action? It’s about a way in or a way out. You decide.

"Everything Happens For A Reason"

"Half-Truths" Series

July 2nd, 2017 - 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

Jonah 4

Theologians barely allowed Jesus time to ascend from the earth before they took up the debate, and it continues to rage even to this day: How active truly is God in our world? 

Is He the absentee landlord who created us and promptly plopped us down here before jetting off on an eternal holiday?  Or is He the direct author of every moment of our lives, responsible for every occurrence, good and bad, that occurs throughout time?  By the time the prophet Jonah completed his now biblically documented journey, from storm-tossed, to the belly of a great fish, to sun-stroked outside the city of Nineveh, to He had seen a God of both extremes.  Perhaps the truth is that our holy and merciful God operates somewhere in between. 

I Believe In The Church

"I Believe" Series

June 25th, 2017 - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Paul is preaching.

Matthew 16:13-20

I Believe In The Holy Spirit

"I Believe" Series

June 18th, 2017 - 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

I Believe In Jesus Christ

"I Believe" Series

June 11th, 2017 - 1st Sunday after Pentecost

Reverend Dan is preaching.

I Believe In God

"I Believe" Series

June 4th, 2017 - Pentecost Sunday

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Acts 2:1-21 and Genesis 1:26-2:3
 

The Bible begins with these words in the book of Genesis, “In the beginning God….” God always was, always is, and always will be.

That is what we believe. What does that mean for me and who I am? Belief in God is not just something I say but it is a way of life. I am created in his image and that means I am supposed to reflect who God is in my life. Pentecost reveals a lot about the traits of God that should be reflected in my life. What or who does my life reflect?

Fast Freedom

May 28th, 2017

Pastor Paul is preaching.
Luke 14:25-35

May we, as children of a merciful God and residents of this great nation, be ever on guard against taking our freedoms for granted.

The price at which they were obtained is far too great. Equally important, however, is that we understand and live into the gift of freedom as God intended. In Luke 14, Jesus flips traditional thought on its head, reminding us that freedom is not only obtained at a cost, but maintained and enjoyed at a cost as well. Freedom in Christ is known only by those who are constantly vigilant against the sneaky shackles of this world.

Bones as They Should Be

"Bones" Series

May 21st, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:9-10, 21-28

The body put back together is nothing until it is filled with the breath of God.

When the physical body is filled with the breath, Spirit, Ruach, of God, then and only then are we truly alive as God’s people. Ruach is the Hebrew word meaning breath, Spirit, or wind. It is the same word used when God created Adam. God breathes his breath into Adam and he is alive. When we are alive with and for the breath of God, we are alive. When you are all put together are your bones as they should be in God’s eyes? Are you really alive or just a pile of bones standing up?

These Bones Will Rattle

"Bones" Series

May 14th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:7-8, 15-20

The minute that Ezekiel does what God commands him to do the bones start to rattle.

It was God working through Ezekiel that made those bones rattle. Sometimes we are the ones who need our bones rattled again. We are hoping they will rattle enough to bring us back to life in Christ. Sometimes God will use us – will work through us – to help someone else’s bones rattle. At RRUMC we want to always hear the rattle of dried up bones coming back to life. Sometimes that rattling is our bones and sometimes it’s the bones of those who have not yet met Jesus Christ in the midst of their story. Either way – RATTLING BONES! 

Can These Dry Bones Live?

"Bones" Series

May 7th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:3-6, 12-14

Can these bones live again?

God asks Ezekiel if the bones can live again. God already knows the answer. God wants to know what is on Ezekiel’s heart. Do you believe the bones can live again? Is God powerful enough to bring those bones back to life? Do you realize that you can and should play a part in helping those bones come back to life? Do you believe that your God is powerful enough to bring your dried up bones back to life? What do you believe?

Very Dry Bones

"Bones" Series

April 30th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
Ezekiel 37:1-2, 11

How did the dry bones dry up?

How did they get in the valley? What is it that takes us from strong and healthy in our faith stories to dried up and lying in the valley? Did something happen to us or did we let something happen, or did we not do something we were supposed to do? If we don’t figure out how and why we got here we will never get out of the valley – and if we do, we will find ourselves back there before we know it. How did we get here?

The Worst Thing Is Never the Last Thing

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

April 16th, 2017 - Easter

Reverend Dan is preaching.
John 20:1-18

Isn’t it strange that we call the day that Jesus was crucified “Good Friday?”  

From the perspective of someone who knows nothing about Jesus Christ there was nothing at all good about Good Friday.  It seemed to be a defeat for all those who follow Christ.  The difference is that those who believe in Jesus Christ see the world differently.  We see the world and all that it brings us through resurrection eyes.  Jesus gave us the ability to see past the cross of Good Friday and right on to the power of the empty tomb.  We are an empty tomb people.  The worst thing that could have happened was for Jesus to be crucified.  However, the worst thing is never the last thing.  The same is true for all those who follow Jesus.  No matter what your “worst” thing is, because of the empty tomb, it is never the last thing.  Don’t get stuck on Good Friday when Easter is waiting for you around the corner.

Love is not a feeling, but a way of acting

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

April 13th,2017 - Maundy Thursday

Reverend Dan is preaching
John 15:9-17

At the Last Supper, which many Christians refer to as Maundy Thursday, we see Jesus’ final commandment.  

Maundy means mandate.  Jesus tells us that we are to bear fruit in the world after he is gone.  It is supposed to be fruit that will last.  The fruit that we are to bear is LOVE.  Can you imagine living in a world where in every situation we asked ourselves one question, “What is the most loving thing to do?”  I am pretty sure the world would look a whole lot different than the world we live in now.  In order to know how to love we must first find ourselves living and moving and having our being in the one who was sent into the world to love all of us.  Jesus is our example of what love is supposed to look like when it bears fruit.  Jesus, help me to bear fruit that will last.

Don't Be Afraid

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

April 9th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
John 12:12-19, John 18:1-9

In John’s Gospel we have a whole different view of the Jesus coming into Jerusalem that day to celebration the Passover. 

We see a Jesus in complete control of the situation.  Jesus is crystal clear in John 10:14-18 that no one takes his life from him, but instead he gave his life of his own free will.  When we start to live a life in Christ we are living into that same power, authority, and peace that he tool to the cross.  Jesus told the people of Zion, “Don’t be afraid, your king is coming!”  That same king is the one who not only comes into Jerusalem but also comes to each one of us.

Mission Accomplished

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

April 2nd, 2017

Pastor Paul is preaching.
John 18:1-11

So in case you’re just tuning into this sermon series, John’s Gospel is DIFFERENT. 

And the portrait he provides us of Jesus in his final hours on earth stays true to this expectation.  While no less depictive of a loving and sacrificial Savior, John’s Jesus is a great deal closer to a roaring lion than a gentle lamb.  Through John, we see Jesus on a mission, fully composed and in perfect control every step along the way.  And if Jesus’ mission is to rescue humanity, then our role is simple.  We need to acknowledge our need for rescue and be ready and willing to receive it.  A simple task, one would think.  Or is it?

Vacation Bible School and Upward Camp Volunteer Signups

We are looking for volunteers for both Vacation Bible School and Upward Camps.

Be sure to sign up right away!

Before I Go...

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

March 26, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
John 15:1-8

Jesus knows that the time has come for him to leave this earthly world.  

What is it that he must convey to these twelve men who have been with him for that last three years?  How can they carry on without him?  What is it that they are supposed to do when Jesus is gone?  How can they continue to be a disciple without a rabbi?  That answer is hidden, and yet as clear as a grape hanging from a branch. 

It's a Matter of Life and Death

"John: Gospel of Light and Life" Series

March 19th, 2017

Reverend Dan is preaching.
John 6:28-35

Life is as simple as bread and water.  

Physically we as human beings are very aware of the two basic necessities for human survival.  If we boil existence down, we need food and water to survive.  In the text for today we hear Jesus tell people that he is the bread of life and that everyone who believes in him will never be hungry of thirsty again.  Eternal life just like our earthly life has some basic requirements.  Those are food and water.  Jesus knew that and that is why he called himself the BREAD of LIFE.  How are you feeding your eternal soul?  It could be the difference between inviting Christ into your life or you accepting the invitation to live into Christ’s life.