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Declaring the Glory

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Psalm 19 January 25, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC There is a story told of a little girl—let’s call her Julie—who was very excited about the story of Jonah and the big fish that she had learned in Sunday School, so on Monday she went to school and told the story to her whole class. Her teacher immediately told her that such a story was impossible. It could not happen. Jonah could not live inside the belly of a whale. But Julie stood her ground and insisted it did happen. “I know it happened,” she said, “because it’s in the Bible.” The teacher was just as certain that it did not happen, and kept saying so. Julie, through her tears of frustration, said, “Well, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask Jonah, and he will tell me it did happen.” The teacher smiled and said, “Well, what if Jonah’s not in heaven?” Without missing a beat, Julie said, “Well, then you can ask him” (cf. Groeschel, The Benefit of Doubt , pg. 152). Ah, yes, that’s the kind of comeback I wish I had in those times when I’...
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Declaring the Glory (Study Guide)

“Declaring the Glory” Sermon Study Guide for January 25, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: Psalm 19 Jonah and the big fish… 1. Science and Faith scientific method the glory of God… reveal knowledge the way the world was made 2. Problems & Challenges a. Denying __________________________ Romans 1:25 b. Unwilling ________________________ Psalm 104:5 Matthew 6:28-30 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: What Biblical stories do you struggle to believe? How do you deal with people who say the stories are all made up? What seeming contradiction between “science” and “faith” has been most challenging to you? What is the purpose of the Bible? What is the purpose of science? Can these two purposes co-exist? What things in nature/creation leave you in awe or in a spirit of worship? Why do some people worship the creation rather than the creator? What “sacred cows” do people hold onto today, even when there is evidence to the contrary? What did John Wesley mean when he...
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That Lonely Feeling (Study Guide)

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“That Lonely Feeling” Sermon Study Guide for January 11, 2026 Downloadable Version Scripture: Psalm 16:7-11 1. God Feels Far Away? Psalm 88:13-14 - “cry to you for help” Jesus on the cross - Matthew 27:46 Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus knows our weaknesses 2. Experiencing God Elijah - “still small voice” 2 Corinthians 5:17 - new creation Hebrews 11:1 - faith is evidence of things not seen Fact - Faith - Feelings Reasons we don’t “feel” God… Psalm 46:10 Questions to Discuss or Ponder: Have you ever felt as if God was far away? What happened and how did you respond? Why would David have cried to God for help? What situation(s) do you think would cause you to do the same? What comfort does it give you that God empathizes with your struggles? Why doesn’t God speak louder? Why does God speak with a “still, small voice”? What’s the difference between a feeling and a commitment? Which one lasts longer? Why? What do you rely on the most: facts, faith or feelings? How does that affe...
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Whatever You Ask

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1 John 5:13-15 January 4, 2026 • Mount Pleasant UMC I’ve kind of made it a habit over the last few years for sermons in January to focus on some form of questions—because people have a lot of questions about faith and God and Christianity today. Some people call it “deconstruction” or questioning their faith and some even walk away from the church altogether because of their questions, at least in part because they don’t get answers that satisfy their soul. The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, as a 13-year-old famously asked his pastor how God could let children starve. When he was basically told not to ask questions, he walked away from the faith. People have questions and they have doubts. I’ve said it before: there is nothing wrong with doubt. Doubt is not the opposite of faith and questions do not necessarily mean that someone has walked away from Jesus. In fact, many of them still like Jesus; they’re just done with the church because they’ve been told not to ask questions. But ...
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