SERMONS

Fireworks. Parades. Backyard Parties. That’s how we celebrate the 4th of July. In a similar spirit, the disciples in Luke 10 rejoice in their success: “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” (Luke 10:17). This stands in stark contrast to the rejection they experienced in a Samaritan village (Luke 9:51–62). What does the story of the Sending of the Seventy reveal about our human longing for power and recognition—and our aversion to rejection and humiliation?

Christ is not distant or abstract—He is both fully divine and fully human. The incarnate Word bridges the gap between heaven and earth, offering a direct, personal encounter with God. The incarnation means that what once was declared in words is now revealed in flesh—inviting us into relationship and transformation.

Israel and Iran are launching missiles at each other. Can true reconciliation ever happen? It’s easy to grow skeptical and become a naysayer. But do you remember the fall of the Berlin Wall? Or the end of segregation in America? Would you believe that “if God is in it, nothing is impossible”? What if I told you that Peter’s confrontation with Jewish believers in Jerusalem, as told in Acts 11, sheds light on the very conflicts we face today?

What is your favorite memory of your dad? Was it going fishing with him? Playing soccer? Or maybe learning how to swim? Whatever it is, many of us would agree—our dads were the wind beneath our wings. Did you know that Jesus described the Father in a similar way? He said, “All that the Father has is mine.”

What did you feel when you were looking for free Wi-Fi at the airport because you had so much to do—and you FINALLY found it? Hallelujah! Not only that, didn’t you feel powerful—like, “I can do anything!”? The disciples on the Day of Pentecost not only received power but they were also connected to the source of that power—the Holy Spirit. In today’s world, with all the technology at our fingertips, do you feel truly connected—or do you still feel empty and alone? If so, why?

Have you ever felt stuck between today and your due date—whether it’s writing a paper, taking an exam, finding your soul mate, or pursuing a big goal? What are we supposed to do in those "in-between" times? The disciples were thrilled to see Jesus resurrected, but then, after 40 days, He said, “I’m leaving.” He promised the coming of the Holy Spirit. The question was: “When?” and “How?”—just like the questions we often wrestle with. So, what do we do when we feel stuck?

Do you remember the first time you used GPS? It was a game changer—until it lost signal. What if I told you there's a GPS that never fails—always present and perfectly accurate? That’s the Holy Spirit. In Acts 16, Paul’s plan to go to Asia Minor was blocked by the Holy Spirit. Have you ever felt the disappointment of a closed door? Join us as we discover how Paul’s unexpected detour led him to Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia, where he shared the Gospel with Lydia.

Speaker: Florence Pond
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Have you answered the call with a “Yes”? What was on the minds of the young men who went to WWII or the Korean War? We marvel at their courage and service. What if God is still calling us—not to do great things, but small ones? How did Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, answer the call? How did Peter respond in Acts 9?

Did you know that everyone thinks they’re right? Try asking someone who supports a political party you strongly oppose—you might be surprised by their conviction. So, what’s the way out of this cycle of conflict and hatred? What if I told you there are valuable lessons in the story of two men in Acts 9? And what does it reveal about healing in our polarized world?

Honor, Duty, and Justice—three words often debated in headlines and social media, where definitions shift depending on the speaker or the audience. But how should Christians define them? More importantly, how can we weave them into our daily lives, shaping not just our actions but our legacy? How we choose to answer these questions will shape the way we truly OUTLIVE our LIFE.

Easter is a joyful day filled with Sunrise Service, Egg Hunts, and the triumphant shout of “Christ is risen!” But did you know the very first Easter morning began with tears? Did you also know that two men went to the tomb, yet only Mary Magdalene saw the risen Jesus—and two angels? Why her? What made her experience so unique that she became the first witness of the resurrection? And how can we share in her encounter?

Imagine this: you're standing on the street as the President of the United States passes by. You see bodyguards in shiny sunglasses and bulletproof Cadillacs rolling ahead. But then — here comes the President in a 1965 Ford F100 pickup truck. What a shocker, right? That’s probably how the crowd felt when they saw Jesus entering Jerusalem—not on a warhorse, but on a humble donkey. What lessons can we learn from this famous Palm Sunday moment?

Have you ever wasted your resources—whether time, talent, or treasure—on something? We’re all guilty of it, whether it's watching too many YouTube videos, endlessly scrolling through social media, or constantly feeding coins into a claw machine. But what if I told you that someone once wasted an entire year's salary on perfume—and then poured it out, not even on herself, but on someone else? What a waste! Or is it?

Have you ever wasted your resources—whether time, talent, or treasure—on something? We’re all guilty of it, whether it's watching too many YouTube videos, endlessly scrolling through social media, or constantly feeding coins into a claw machine. But what if I told you that someone once wasted an entire year's salary on perfume—and then poured it out, not even on herself, but on someone else? What a waste! Or is it?

Food prices rise. The stock market crashes. We get laid off. What’s the first thing we do? We blame others. And if we can’t blame them, we blame God. Sound familiar? Just like us, some people once asked Jesus: “Those Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with sacrifices—were they worse sinners than other Galileans?” What was His response? And what must we do to avoid a similar fate?

Have you ever stepped back or dropped out of something because of the challenges you faced in life? You're not alone. Even Jesus wasn’t exempt from fear or threats—he even received a death threat from Herod, whom he called a "fox." How would you react in such a situation? What is the "fox" in your life? And why does Jesus compare himself to a mother hen?

“You can do it fast and easy. So, why not do it?” You might think this when you have homework to do and ChatGPT is right in front of you. “You can make more money. So, why not do it?” Or, “You can prove yourself. So, why not show off how good you are?” Sound familiar? Guess what? This temptation has been around for over 2000 years—even to Jesus in the wilderness. So, how can we overcome these temptations?

Have you ever been somewhere so amazing that you didn’t want to leave? Peter had that experience on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured and spoke to Moses and Elijah about his “departure” (cf. Greek – Exodus). Peter exclaimed, “Let’s build three tents here!” But what is the temptation at that moment? What needs to happen for true transformation to occur? What is the purpose of transformation? And why does Exodus come up suddenly in Luke?

Did you ever see a friend with a Nintendo and think, "I want that too"? Human desire isn't just linear; it's triangular. We often watch and emulate others, even mirroring their reactions when we're hurt or offended. This can be seen in revenge, retaliation, and even in larger conflicts like wars. But is there an end to this vicious cycle?

Did you know the setting makes a difference in storytelling? Did you know that Jesus preaches His famous Beatitudes not on a mountain, but on a plain in Luke’s Gospel? What if I told you that, according to His sermon, blessedness isn’t just something that will happen in the future in heaven, but also a present condition in a level place where suffering and struggles are endless?

He worked all night, but nothing to show for it—tired and frustrated. To this skilled fisherman, a rabbi says, “Put out into the deep water and let down your net for a catch.” If I were him, I’d probably say, “What do you know about fishing? I know better! Who do you think you are?” But Peter doesn’t respond that way. Instead, he obeys and experiences a miraculous catch. What made it possible? What is the "deep water" that Jesus is asking you to venture into?

Familiarity can free us from anxiety and nervousness, but did you know it can also breed contempt? Even Jesus wasn’t immune to this when he spoke in his hometown of Nazareth. The people there didn’t just reject him—they tried to hurl him off a cliff. Where in your life do you see familiarity hindering your faith? What areas is God nudging you—if not bothering you—but you continue to push away, as if you’re hurling them off a cliff?

Every president delivers an inaugural address before taking office. What if I told you that Jesus did the same in Nazareth before beginning His public ministry? What if I told you that His speech was met with fierce opposition and even a threat of death, rather than the cheers and applause we typically see on January 20th on Capitol Hill? What was the message of His inaugural address? Why was He rejected?

Have you ever been afraid of trying something new, like getting on the school bus for the first time or going to kindergarten on your first day of school? What if I told you that Jesus had a similar moment in Cana, but He was encouraged by His mother? Can we also glorify God in the same way that Jesus revealed His glory by turning water into wine? How?

Do you remember the spelling bee? What’s the secret to success? It's not just about seeing or reading the words, but about truly paying attention to them—esp. the details—and not pretending you already know them. What if I told you that the Wise Men who visited baby Jesus embodied these virtues? Wait—spelling bees and the Wise Men?

Have you ever been in the dark, searching for light? We need light because it is a primary mode of perception for human beings. John's Gospel tells us that Jesus came into the world as the light in the darkness, just as we celebrate His birth at Christmas and receive the light of Christ. Now, the question is: what do we do with this light?

Can you believe this Sunday is the last Sunday of 2024? Where did the time go? As you look back on 2024, what would you say? How has God blessed you? We humans are wired to worship. The issue is not whether we worship, but what or who we worship. Who is your King, or what is at the top of your priority list or value structure? Is it God, or something or someone else?

Do you know that our God is the God of the underdog? Did you know that David wasn’t even invited when his father, Jesse, paraded his other sons before Samuel to be chosen as king? What if God told you, “You’re My last and best option”? What if our Advent journey culminates with the Prince of Peace?

Aristotle defined God centuries ago as the "Unmoved Mover" — the primary cause of all motion, who remains inactive afterward. But is God merely a celestial butler? In Zephaniah 3, we encounter a very different picture of God: He is a singer and a dancer. How can this be?

God answered your prayers. You’re securely back home from exile. Yet, the problems of poverty, injustice, and corruption persist. This is the story of the Book of Malachi—and our story today. We have some cleaning to do as we wait for the coming of Jesus this Advent. What areas of your life need the most attention?

As we say, “This is the most wonderful time of the year!” Malls and markets are filled with Christmas trees, decorations, and people buying gifts, traveling back and forth to visit family members, and celebrating Christmas. Yet, is this—the coming of Christmas trees, people, and gifts—the reason we celebrate Christmas? If not, what is it? Who is coming? Furthermore, how does Jeremiah’s prophecy to the people of Judah, besieged by the Babylonians, relate to the “hope” of Christmas?

"Commenting on the last section of the Conference vision, 'Healing the World,' Rev. Sam Yun, Core Team Chair of the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, says, 'This is the BHAG [Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal] for our Conference.' How can a small local church like Yuba City FUMC heal the world? Is this too big a dream to have?

Suppose you’re a doctor and the church is your patient. What diagnosis would you give—thriving or dying? It’s true: "When something isn’t growing, it’s a clear sign that it’s dying." So, how can we help the church—and our own lives—thrive once more?

You can enter Gods presence anytime. It is a free gift to all. Please do not take his blessing lightly. We are indeed very blessed people. Men of God like Abraham and David yearned for this kind of privilege. Let’s take this time to feel and enjoy the presence of God.

Do you know that the California Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has a vision statement? It’s “Following Jesus, Thriving in Community, Healing the World.” Sounds simple and clear. But what does “following Jesus” mean, both personally and communally?

What if I told you, “The fact-checking score for God is 0, whereas the faith-checking score for Abraham is 100”? That’s the story of Genesis chapter 15. Should we continue to believe in God when His score seems so low?

“Do you think I’m dumb?” This is probably what Lot thought when his uncle, Abraham, said, “If you go right, I will go left; and if you go left, I will go right.” Do you know how the story ends? Do you also know what happens when we choose and do things that please only our eyes and bodies, rather than our minds and souls?

You’ve probably encountered many strange stories in the Bible. How about the one in Genesis 12:10-20? Did you know that Abraham deceived Pharaoh and not only survived but also became wealthy? How did that happen? What’s the point of the story?

Do you enjoy adventure—a journey into the unknown? While it’s exciting and enticing, it can also be challenging because you don’t know what to expect. What if I told you that faith is a journey? What if I told you it all began with one man, Abraham, who took the first step in faith? What if I told you that stewardship is a journey, not just about putting money into the offering basket?

We often hear, “Be a leader! Shine!” at school or in the media. However, we’re also painfully aware that the “be the first and the best” culture, fueled by social media, can easily lead to narcissism or neuroticism. What if I told you that the Christian message is quite the opposite? The Kingdom of God is the upside-down Kingdom, where what is up is down, and what is down is up. How is this possible?

Concert arenas, soccer stadiums, and bars are filled with people, while churches are often empty. Why? It’s because church isn’t perceived as “fun.” However, the kind of “fun” we seek might not be what truly calls our souls to action. Instead, consider dedication, or “discipleship.” Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” In Caesarea Philippi, He clarified three essential aspects of being a disciple.

What would you say if someone told you that you don’t listen? You wouldn’t agree with them, right? But in truth, we are all deaf and blind to something. Even Jesus experienced this in His encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, yet He changed His mind.

Why do we care so much about how others see us while the reality within us tells a different story? Similarly, in first-century Palestine, the Pharisees focused obsessively on the washing of cups, pots, and bronze vessels, neglecting the true issues of their hearts. Isn’t this also our story?

Do you know how Jesus’s famous miracle of multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish ends in John’s Gospel? Everybody leaves Him, except for the twelve disciples. Why is that? Do we come to Him for bread or for His word?

Do you remember the “Ice Bucket Challenge”? Do you remember why many (or probably including you) joined that challenge? It was to give those with ALS a better life. What if I told you that Jesus did something similar in the Gospel of John when he said, “ Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life.”

Do you find yourself blaming more often or praising more? If you tend to complain, you're not alone—many of us are caught in this vicious cycle. Do you want to break free from it and fill your life with intimacy, joy, and meaning?

When you turn on the TV or scroll through social media, the message is always the same: “You want this, don’t you?” Whether it's a fancy meal, a new car, a dream home, or money in the bank, you might realize deep down that these things aren't what you're ultimately seeking.