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Moses gets a lot of press. Unlike some of the other heroes we have talked about, Moses is not unknown. There are movies, series, books, and songs about Moses.  Even though he is well known, what we may not know is how unlikely it was that Moses became the deliverer of the Hebrews from Egypt. He was an outcast, a murderer, and living a quiet, forgotten life far away from the palace where he grew up. 

What happens when God calls you by name?  While Gideon was hiding in a winepress, afraid of the armies that oppressed them, trying to eke out an existence and survive the winter, God comes to him and calls him "Mighty Warrior". Where Gideon only saw oppression, lack of resources, and an army that was outnumbered 100 to 1, God saw the redemption and restoration of a people that had been drawn away from Him by the culture and the idols of the world that oppressed them.

We begin our series about Unlikely Heroes of the Bible with a unique story in the old testament. Rahab was a woman, a gentile, a prostitute from a broken family living in an evil and Godless nation yet, somehow she not only heard about the God of Israel but came to understand and believe that He is the true God.  While others around her "melted" in fear, she put action to her belief and helped Israel conquer the land God had promised to them.

Our discussion about Love in chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians couldn't be contained in just one podcast. Join us for part two.

There are several themes that come up in all of the new testament discussions about spiritual gifts; unity, working together, diversity, maturity, and...love. In every instance that Paul talks about spiritual gifts, he ends it by emphasizing the importance of love. Any discussion about the spiritual gifts without a deep dive into a discussion about love would not only be incomplete but spiritually irresponsible. 

Leaders...LEAD. Encouragers...Encourage. Teachers...Teach. Givers...Give. What God has put in you and how the Holy Spirit has empowered you is revealed in action.

This week we begin a new series that will lead us to Pentecost. Together we are going to take four weeks to look into the unity and diversity of the Gifts of the Spirit. We encourage everyone who calls MUMC home to take this spiritual gifts assessment by using this link: https://spiritualgiftstest.com/embed-2/church-id/9CA121/?launch=true And then join us as we come together to work together in His kingdom.

We conclude our series this week where we have been talking about "Stuff Jesus Didn"t Say" with one that I'm sure we have all been guilty of: "God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle" Join the discussion as we look at this from several angles and find that not only does God usually give us more than we can handle, but he always goes through the situation with us to the other side. 

The heart is a funny thing.  It is the center of our desire, passion, and often the compass that Disney, Hallmark and Hobby Lobby are encouraging us to follow. We hear it so much that it would be understandable if we assumed that it came straight from the mouth of Jesus.  But it didn't.  We can get so wrapped up in trying to figure out what "feels" right and what our heart is saying, that we can completely miss what Jesus is clearly telling us to do. 

This week we begin a new series where we will look at "Stuff Jesus Didn't Say". In the first week we dig into "Jesus just wants me to be happy". This brings up a lot of questions about what it means to be happy, what Jesus desires for our lives and what it means to take up our cross daily. The Christian life is more than fleeting happiness and getting everything we ask for.

As we have walked through the gospel of Mark this Lenten season through to the cross, we have been struck by how much of the interpretation of the story of Jesus is left to us, the reader. Just like those in the story, the disciples, Pilate, the Roman guards, the followers of Jesus, the robbers crucified with him, and the crowds that followed and mocked him; we all are confronted with his death. 

We have reached the last part of the road to the cross. As we have walked with Jesus we have heard Him speak of the kingdom of God and now, as we approach Jerusalem, we will see it unfold.