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In this message from our series The Weeping Prophet, we turn to Jeremiah 23 and God’s warning about false prophets and counterfeit messages. The danger of a counterfeit is that it does not always look obviously false. It can sound Christian, use biblical language, and even speak about God, Jesus, grace, and salvation while quietly replacing the gospel with something else. Jeremiah confronted prophets who offered the people comfort without repentance, blessing without obedience, and peace without holiness. Their message gave people the hope they wanted to hear rather than the truth they needed to hear. The same warning continues throughout the New Testament as Jesus, Paul, Peter, and others caution the church about false teaching and distorted versions of the faith. This sermon examines several counterfeit gospels, including legalism, the prosperity gospel, self-help Christianity, political Christianity, progressive Christianity, and religious pluralism. While each takes a different form, they share a common problem: they move something other than Jesus to the center. The answer is not suspicion or cynicism, but discernment—knowing the genuine gospel well enough to recognize what does not belong. The true gospel does not simply tell us what we want to hear. It confronts our sin, calls us to repentance and holiness, and reminds us that we cannot save ourselves. But it also proclaims the greater truth: Christ came to rescue us, died for our sins, rose bodily from the grave, and offers forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life to those who trust in Him. Jeremiah describes God’s Word as fire and as a hammer that breaks the rock. Scripture is not merely meant to confirm what we already believe—it is meant to correct us, transform us, and draw us back to Christ. We are called to test what we hear against Scripture, the teachings of Christ, and the faith handed down through the generations. There will always be counterfeit gospels, but the church is called to remain faithful to the one true gospel: one Lord, one Savior, and one hope in Jesus Christ. Scripture: Jeremiah 23:16–29 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

What happens when following God becomes difficult? What do we do when faithfulness brings rejection, hardship, or even suffering? In this sermon from The Weeping Prophet series, we look at Jeremiah 20:7–13 and the prophet’s honest struggle with his calling. Jeremiah is exhausted and ready to quit, yet he discovers that God’s Word is like a “burning fire shut up in my bones”—something he cannot simply silence or walk away from. Through the stories of Jeremiah, Stephen, Polycarp, Perpetua and Felicity, and ultimately Jesus Christ, we are reminded that Christian faithfulness does not always mean comfort or approval. Following Christ can sometimes be costly. But we never walk through those difficult moments alone. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, not because suffering is good in itself, but because Christ has already walked the road before us. The cross was followed by the empty tomb, and suffering is not the final word for those who belong to Christ. The circumstances around us may not always change—but by the grace of God, they do not have to change us. The question we are left with is: Is there still a fire in our bones? Has God’s Word truly taken hold of us? Are we willing to remain faithful when following Jesus is comfortable—and when it is costly? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this message from our series The Weeping Prophet, we turn to Jeremiah 18 and one of Scripture’s most powerful images: God as the potter and His people as the clay. God sends Jeremiah to a potter’s house, where he watches a vessel become marred in the potter’s hands. Instead of throwing the clay away, the potter reworks it into something new. Through this picture, God reminds Israel that He has not abandoned His people—but He is calling them to repentance and allowing Himself to reshape them. This message explores what it means to recognize that we are still works in progress. Our failures, wounds, sins, and past mistakes do not have to be the final word about who we are. God’s grace does not simply forgive us; it transforms us. But Jeremiah also gives us a warning. The clay can resist the potter. God’s sovereignty does not make our choices meaningless, and His grace is not permission to remain unchanged. We are called to repent, surrender, and allow God to continue His work within us. Ultimately, the image of the potter points us toward Jesus Christ—the Creator who entered His own creation, took on human flesh, bore our sin on the cross, and rose again to make us a new creation. If you feel broken, remember: the potter has not thrown you away. He is still working. If you have wandered, return. If you have failed, receive His grace. If you are being shaped through a difficult season, trust His hands. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this message from our study of The Weeping Prophet, we turn to Jeremiah 12 and one of the most difficult questions believers have asked throughout history: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while the faithful suffer?Jeremiah brings his anguish honestly before God, asking why those who act wickedly appear to thrive. God's response reminds Jeremiah that the road ahead will not always be easy—and that faithfulness requires endurance through trials.This message explores how Jeremiah's hope was rooted in the promises of God and how the story of Scripture points toward a greater deliverance: Jesus Christ and the hope of the New Exodus. From the Exodus and the prophets to the Psalms, Job, and ultimately Christ's death and resurrection, we see a consistent message: suffering is real, but it is not the end.Like Asaph in Psalm 73, we often struggle when our present circumstances seem unfair. Yet when we draw near to God, gather with His people, worship, pray, and return to His Word, we gain an eternal perspective.Our hope is found in the risen Christ—the One who has brought us freedom from sin and who will one day bring complete justice, mercy, and restoration.Trials will come. Suffering will come. But deliverance will come too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this message from our series The Weeping Prophet, we continue through the book of Jeremiah and examine Jeremiah 7, where the prophet delivers a powerful warning against fake faith. Standing at the entrance of the temple, Jeremiah confronts a people who had become deeply religious while growing increasingly distant from God. They trusted in the temple, their rituals, their religious activities, and their outward appearance while neglecting repentance, justice, obedience, and genuine faith. This message explores the danger of confusing religious activity with a transformed heart. Jeremiah’s warning is echoed centuries later by Jesus when He confronts the religious leaders and declares that the temple had become a “den of robbers.” Both Jeremiah and Jesus expose the same problem: using religion as a refuge while refusing to surrender our lives to God. We can attend church, study Scripture, serve others, know the right doctrines, and say the right things—and still have a heart that is far from God. The question is not simply whether our faith looks good from the outside, but whether it is producing real fruit: repentance, holiness, mercy, justice, obedience, and love. Ultimately, the answer to fake faith is not abandoning Christianity. It is genuine discipleship, repentance, surrender, and faith in Jesus Christ. Is your faith producing real fruit, or are you simply displaying the appearance of faith? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this message from our series The Weeping Prophet, we continue through the book of Jeremiah and examine Jeremiah 6:10–21, focusing on God’s call to His people to “stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths.” Jeremiah warns of the danger of walking away from God while chasing whatever appears newer, easier, or more appealing. The ancient paths are not about nostalgia or blindly following tradition—they are about returning to the truth God has already revealed and walking faithfully in the good way. This message explores the importance of Scripture, the wisdom of the historic Christian faith, the role of creeds and confessions, and the responsibility each generation has to faithfully pass the Gospel on to the next. Ultimately, the ancient paths do not lead us backward—they lead us to Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. As Jeremiah reminds us, knowing the right path is not enough. We must be willing to walk in it. “Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” — Jeremiah 6:16 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this message from our series The Weeping Prophet, we continue through the book of Jeremiah and explore one of Scripture’s most powerful images: “broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2 reveals God’s heartbreak over His people turning away from Him—the fountain of living waters—and seeking satisfaction, security, and fulfillment in things that ultimately cannot satisfy. Through the imagery of cisterns, idols, and empty promises, we are challenged to consider the “broken cisterns” we may be relying on in our own lives. The message also points us toward Jesus Christ, the true source of living water. As Jesus says in John 7, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” Where are you drinking from? What have you trusted to give you the fulfillment that only God can provide? The fountain is still flowing, and Christ’s invitation still stands: Come thirsty. Come weary. Come broken. Come and drink. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In the first message of our new series, The Weeping Prophet, we begin exploring the life and calling of the prophet Jeremiah. This sermon examines Jeremiah 1, highlighting God's sovereign call, Jeremiah's initial hesitation, and the powerful truth that God equips those He calls. We also look at why Jeremiah became known as "The Weeping Prophet," how his ministry points us to Jesus Christ, and what his story teaches us about trusting God's presence in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and weakness. Whether you feel too young, too old, or unqualified, this message is a reminder that God knows you, calls you, and faithfully equips you for His purposes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

In this final message of the Wesley devotional series, the sermon explores John Wesley’s “A Caution Against Bigotry,”arguing that the greatest danger is not merely prejudice but believing that God only works through our denomination, tradition, or theological camp. Using Mark 9:38–41, where Jesus rebukes the disciples for trying to stop someone casting out demons in His name because “he was not following us,” the sermon contrasts tribalism with Christ’s kingdom, which is recognized by its fruit rather than denominational labels. The message carefully distinguishes Christian unity from theological compromise. Christians are not called to embrace false teaching or ignore heresy, but they are called to rejoice whenever faithful believers outside their own tradition preach Christ, lead people to repentance, and bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on Wesley, C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, and examples from church history—including the restored friendship between John Wesley and George Whitefield—the sermon encourages believers to hold firmly to biblical truth while practicing humility, charity, and cooperation with other faithful Christian traditions. The central challenge is simple: instead of asking, “Are they one of us?” Christians should ask, “Are they faithfully following Jesus?” Wherever Christ is preached, lives are transformed, and God is glorified, the church should rejoice together rather than compete. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12 (LSB) Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian Perfectionand what it truly means to be made holy. Contrary to common misconceptions, Wesley teaches that Christian perfection is not sinless flawlessness, but a life increasingly shaped by perfect love for God and neighbor through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Philippians 3 and the witness of the early Church, we examine how God uses the means of grace to restore His image within us and lead us toward Christlikeness. This message challenges us not to settle for forgiveness alone, but to pursue a life continually transformed by God’s grace and perfected in love. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’" - Malachi 3:7 (LSB) Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s sermon The Means of Grace and the practical ways God nurtures and strengthens the Christian life. Focusing on prayer, the study of Scripture, and Holy Communion, we examine how these ordinary practices become extraordinary channels through which God pours out His grace. Wesley reminds us that these means are not ways to earn salvation, but gifts that draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ. As we reflect on the importance of faithful spiritual disciplines and the real presence of Christ at His table, this message encourages us to embrace the means of grace with renewed joy, trusting that God faithfully meets His people through them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

“And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.” - Acts 4:31 (LSB) Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, we’re joined by guest speaker Josh Pearsall as he explores John Wesley’s classic sermon Scriptural Christianity. Looking to the life of the early Church in the book of Acts, Wesley paints a vision of authentic Christianity—not merely a profession of faith, but a life transformed by the Holy Spirit and marked by holiness, love, and joyful obedience to Christ. As Josh unpacks Wesley’s challenge to the Church of his day, we’re invited to ask whether our own lives reflect the faith of the apostles and to consider how God’s kingdom can be made visible through us. This message calls us to embrace the means of grace, pursue holiness, and live as faithful witnesses to the transforming power of the gospel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

“For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’” — Ephesians 5:14 (LSB) Part of our The Devotional Wesley sermon series, this message explores Charles Wesley’s powerful sermon Awake, Thou That Sleepest from Ephesians 5:14. Building on the themes of salvation by faith and The Almost Christian, this sermon examines the danger of spiritual complacency and the call to awaken from spiritual sleep. Through Scripture and the Wesleyan tradition, we discover that Christ does not merely expose our need—He awakens us to new life, transforming our hearts to love God and serve others. Join us as we consider what it means to move beyond outward religion and live as fully awakened disciples of Jesus Christ. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

But Agrippa replied to Paul, “In such short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” - Acts 26:28 (LSB) Part of our “The Devotional Wesley” sermon series, this message explores John Wesley’s famous sermon “The Almost Christian” from Acts 26:28. Wesley challenges us to consider whether we are merely “almost” Christians—moral, religious, and sincere—or truly surrendered followers of Jesus Christ. Through Scripture and Wesley’s own spiritual journey, we examine the difference between outward religion and genuine saving faith, a faith marked by love for God, love for neighbor, and wholehearted trust in Christ. This timeless message calls us to move beyond mere church attendance and religious activity and embrace a living relationship with Jesus that transforms the heart. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [a]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” - Ephesians 2:8 (LSB) We start our new series “The Devotional Wesley” this week, where we will be going through some of the standard sermons of John Wesley. This week’s will be “Salvation by Faith” based upon Ephesians 2:8. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowatamethodists.substack.com