Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Podcast

Sermon - A Woman and Her Son

Pastor Brad preaches from the Gospel of Luke, sharing the story of Jesus raising a widow's only son from the dead, emphasizing the themes of compassion and the unexpected ways it manifests in our lives.

WOW - Joy and Happiness

Pastor Jenny highlights the distinction between joy, a state rooted in faith, and happiness, which is often a fleeting reaction to positive events, emphasizing that true joy in the Christian faith is enduring and intertwined with God's love.

Sermon - Three Strikes and You're Not Out

Pastor Jenny concludes the summer worship series, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," by drawing parallels between baseball and scripture, focusing on the story from the Gospel of John where Jesus feeds the thousands. She highlights the crowd's misunderstanding of Jesus' message, emphasizing that despite their repeated failures (strikes) to grasp the spiritual significance, God's grace assures that they—and we—are never truly out.

WOW - Grand Slam

Referencing Colossians 3:16, Pastor Jenny compares hitting a grand slam in baseball or softball to living out the Wesleyan Quadrilateral of scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. She suggests that, like in sports, combining these elements strengthens and shapes one's faith.

TGWC - A Clean Heart and New Beginning

This episode reflects on Psalm 51:6-12 and Penny's journey to inner renewal and divine wisdom, highlighting the transformative power of honest self-assessment and God's guidance.

WOW - God's World

Pastor Jenny introduces the word of the week "God's World" and references Revelation 7:9. She reflects on the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, noting the diverse parade of nations and how it reminds her of the vastness and diversity of God's world.

TGWC - Little Gifts and Holy Miracles

In John 6:1-13, Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand people with just five barley loaves and two fish, demonstrating God's abundance by turning limited resources into plenty. This passage illustrates that with faith and divine blessing, even seemingly insufficient resources can achieve great outcomes, as further exemplified by a modern story of a church in Atlanta that transformed scarce resources into a significant housing project for the needy.

Sermon - There's No "I" in Team

Pastor Jenny Arneson delivers a sermon titled "There's No I in Team" as part of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church's summer worship series, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." She connects scripture from the Gospel of Mark with life and faith, emphasizing teamwork, unity, and overcoming rejection through the ministry and mission of Jesus.

WOW - Relief

Pastor Jenny introduces "relief" as the word of the week, referencing Luke 10:41-42 where Jesus tells Martha to focus on what truly matters. She compares relief to a relief pitcher in baseball, discussing its significance as a form of comfort, support, and a reminder of God's presence in our lives.

TGWC - God's Needs

The reading from 2 Samuel 7:1-9 highlights King David’s desire to build a temple for God, but God instructs the prophet Nathan to tell David that this is not necessary, as He has not needed a temple before and has always been with the Israelites. The devotion reflects on this by noting that often, well-meaning individuals in the church focus on their own plans without seeking God’s guidance. It emphasizes the importance of prayer, listening for God's direction, and considering the needs of others over personal ambitions.

Sermon - Nicknames

Continuing our sermon series entitled, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Pastor Brad recalls several famous baseball nicknames and shares a personal story about corralling sheep. He concludes with a reflection on Jesus as the "Good Shepherd," emphasizing the significance of shepherds in the Bible and the call to live sacrificial lives, paralleling the dedication and compassion seen in Jesus' teachings.

WOW - Reach

Pastor Jenny introduces the Word of the Week, "Reach," explaining its basis in Matthew 7:12, also known as the Golden Rule, and provides an acronym for "reach" to encourage applying faith in daily life.

TGWC - Removing Barriers

Psalm 24 emphasizes God's supreme authority and invites humans to seek blamelessness and purity to draw closer to Him, highlighting that access to God is granted by His grace and not by human traditions, rules and regulations.

Sermon - The Line-Up Card

Pastor Jenny's sermon continues the "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" series, connecting baseball themes with scripture. She discusses God's choice of David as king in 1 Samuel, emphasizing the importance of heart and faithfulness over appearances, similar to the movie "Moneyball" where undervalued players show hidden potential. She concludes by likening God's divine lineup for kingdom work to a coach's lineup card, stressing that God values faithfulness over outward success.

WOW - Prediction

Referencing Mark 13:32, Pastor Jenny discusses the concept of prediction. She emphasizes that rather than predicting the future, followers of Jesus should focus on being faithful and alert to opportunities to share God's love, echoing John Wesley's call to do the good we can.