Approaching the intersection...

“I Am a United Methodist Christian Because… Worship Has More Than One Expression”  - Sermon Series Week #4  Pikeville UMC  September 23, 2018  Review series Throughout the month of September, we are exploring our heritage as United Methodists, and what makes us unique, through a sermon series entitled, “I am a United Methodist Christian Because….”    Throughout this series, I have made two very clear statements.   First, the United Methodist Church is part of the larger Christian family which means that we are unapologetically Christian.   Our faith is in Christ.   And, secondly, we do not believe that we are the only Christians or that we are “more Christian” than other Christians.   To be United Methodist is to be ecumenical.    While we are inherently an ecumenical people, it is okay to say there is something unique about being a United Methodist Christian; something worthy of celebrating.   I compare it to a...

“I Am a United Methodist Christian Because… Because Personal Holiness Should Result in Social Holiness” Week #3 of the sermon series Pikeville UMC  September 16, 2018 Review series Throughout the month of September, we are exploring our heritage as United Methodists, and what makes us unique, through a sermon series entitled, “I am a United Methodist Christian Because….”    As I have with each of the previous two weeks of the series, I want to be very clear about two important aspects of this series.   The United Methodist Church is part of the larger Christian family which means that we are unapologetically Christian.   Our faith is in Christ.   And, secondly, we do not believe that we are the only Christians or that we are “more Christian” than other Christians.   To be United Methodist is to be ecumenical.    While we are inherently an ecumenical people, it is okay to say there is something unique about being a United Methodis...

Week #2 of the “I Am a United Methodist Christian Because…” Sermon Series “The Head and the Heart Meet in a Wonderful Way” Pikeville UMC September 9, 2018 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13 (NIV) 1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that "We all possess knowledge." But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that "An idol is nothing at all in the world" and that "There is no God but one."   5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. ...

“I Am a United Methodist Christian Because… Salvation is Only the Beginning of the Journey”  Week #1 of a five-week sermon series  Pikeville UMC  September 2, 2018 2 Peter 1: 3-11 (New Century Version) 3 Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness.   4   Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. With these gifts you can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires.  5   Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; 6 and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; 7 and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add lov...