Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Podcast

Sermon - Light Bearers, Hope Builders

Pastor Jenny urges the church—“children of light”—to push back against a culture of negativity by practicing encouragement, which literally “gives courage,” and by wearing the armor of faith, love, and hope (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11). Drawing on a Kindness 101 story of mutual encouragement, she calls us to be light-bearers and hope-builders through intentional words and small, consistent acts that lift others up every day.

Reflection question:
Who needs a specific word of encouragement from you this week, and what concrete, hope-filled sentence could you offer them today?

The UFO Effect

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on James 1:18, which reminds us that God has given us new birth through the word of truth. In a world filled with “UFOs”—untruths, false narratives, and overreactions—we are called to stay grounded in God’s word, discerning what is real, and responding with wisdom, faith, and clarity.

Sermon - He Could Be Anyone

Pastor Brad revisits Jesus’ well-known parable by looking closely at each character—the thieves, the priest, the Levite, the Samaritan, the innkeeper, and the victim—to show how compassion and kindness cut across boundaries of status, enmity, or identity. He reminds us that every person carries within them a God-given “core of goodness,” and that we are called to live it out by being neighbors in action, even when it stretches us beyond comfort.

Reflection question:
Who in your life might be “across the road” from you right now—and what would it mean to cross over with compassion, as the Samaritan did?

Moment of Kindness

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Galatians 6:9, which encourages us not to grow weary in doing what is right, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Just as pilots must fully commit at “V1 speed” during takeoff, we too are called to act decisively with kindness and love—trusting that God will carry us through the moment and beyond.

Sermon - Relentless Pursuit: The God Who Won't Give Up

Summary:
Through the parable of the lost sheep, Pastor Jenny reminds us that God’s very nature is to seek, find, and rejoice over each one of us—even when we’ve “nibbled our way” into lostness. God’s relentless pursuit is marked by compassion, empathy, and joy, calling us to reflect that same love toward those who are forgotten, hurting, or cast aside.

Reflection question:
Who in your life right now might feel “lost” or unseen—and how could you, with empathy and kindness, embody God’s relentless pursuit for them?

Imagine

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Ephesians 3:20, which proclaims that God’s power at work within us can accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine. Like watching clouds transform into shapes before our eyes, we are invited to embrace the gift of imagination as a way God inspires us toward faith, creativity, and hope-filled living.

The Good We Can - Episode 4: "You Do Belong"

Episode 4: You Do Belong - Naming and Healing Ethnic Loneliness

In this episode of The Good We Can, hosts Bill Anciaux and Heather Young sit down with Prasanta Verma—author, poet, and public health professional—to explore the emotional and spiritual dimensions of ethnic loneliness. Drawing on themes from her new book Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, Prasanta shares powerful stories, personal reflections, and practical wisdom on how identity, silence, and community intersect.

Together, we reflect on:

• What it means to truly listen and be listened to
  
  
• How internalized messages and social norms shape our sense of belonging
  
  
• Why faith communities have a unique role in cultivating hospitality and healing
  
  
• How storytelling can break cycles of disconnection
  
  
• Why Prasanta chose to end each chapter of her book with the same poem—and how it affirms dignity
  
  

Prasanta also gives us a preview of her upcoming visit to Sun Prairie United Methodist Church for a free community event on Sunday, September 28, 2025 from 2:00–4:30 PM, co-sponsored by the Sun Prairie Wellness Coalition.

🆓 The event is free, but please register in advance:
Go to sunprairieumc.org, click the About menu, then Upcoming Events.

☎️ Or register by phone: 608-837-5554
(Ask for Chris at the church office.)

🖥️ To learn more about Prasanta’s work and writing, visit prasantaverma.com
Follow her on Instagram: @prasantaverma
Subscribe to her Substack: Belonging and the Human Experience

 

Sermon - Partners in the Gospel

Summary:
In this message, Pastor Jenny introduces the Kindness 101 series by connecting a story of teamwork on the football field with Paul’s letter to Philemon, where he calls the church to welcome Onesimus not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. She reminds us that partnership in the gospel is about practicing grace together—extending welcome, hospitality, and forgiveness so that God’s love can be made visible in the world.

Reflection question:
Where in your life—school, church, family, or friendships—could you practice gospel partnership by showing grace and helping someone feel truly welcomed as part of the “team”?

Distraction

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Philippians 4:8, which encourages us to focus our thoughts on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. Even small distractions—like a jiggling figurine—can become invitations to pause, pray, and shift our perspective, reminding us that God can use interruptions to guide us in new and meaningful directions.

Sermon - A Seat at the Table

Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Jenny reflects on Jesus’ parable about choosing the low seat at a banquet and inviting the poor, crippled, lame, and blind to the table. She reminds us that the kingdom of God is marked not by status or self-importance, but by humility, generosity, and a radical welcome that extends beyond our comfort zones.

Reflection question: Who might be left out of your table—at school, church, or in daily life—and how could you extend Jesus’ kind of welcome to them?

Working Connection

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on 1 Corinthians 12:4–6, reminding us that while there are many kinds of gifts, services, and activities, it is the same God who works through them all. On Labor Day, we are invited to give thanks both for the work that sustains our own lives and for the countless labors of others whose efforts make daily life possible.

The Center

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Mark 4:39, where Jesus calms the storm with the words, “Peace! Be still!” Just as the eye of a hurricane is calm despite chaos all around, God offers us a steady center of peace and refuge in the storms of life when we allow Him to take His rightful place at the center of our hearts.

Sermon - A Measure of Strength

Reflecting on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, Pastor Brad Mather reminds us that temptations aren’t just about weakness—they test our strength and reveal where we place our trust. In a world full of loud and misleading voices, we are called to find the true voice of God through Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason, and to draw on God’s strength to resist what would lead us astray.

Reflection question:
When you face pressure to follow the wrong voices, what practices or reminders help you find the strength to stay true to God’s way?

To Know the Love of God

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Ephesians 3:18–19, which prays that we may grasp the immeasurable breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love. Though beyond our full understanding, this love roots and grounds us, filling us with God’s fullness and inviting us to live renewed in gratitude, strength, and community.

Sermon - When Jesus Shows Up In Summer

Reflecting on Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value, Pastor Jenny reminds us that God’s kingdom is worth giving our all to discover and embrace. Like the seekers in the stories, we’re invited to recognize the surpassing value of God’s love and let it shape our priorities, choices, and way of living.

Reflection: What is one thing in your life right now that you treat as most valuable—and how might your priorities change if you saw God’s kingdom as the greatest treasure?