Sermons and talks from Hyde Park United Methodist. Making God's Love Real. Find out more at hydeparkumc.org
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Mat and Magrey have a discussion about how songs shape us, how they shaped the Bible, and how they continue to bring the biblical text alive today.By Hyde Park United Methodist
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Voices of Inspiration, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 21, 2024
20:59
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Mahalia Jackson was one of the greatest musical artists of her generation, not just for her beautiful music, but also for her inspirational witness. Her most iconic moments were in her singing of “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” based on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew, which inspired comfort and encouragement during the civil rights movement. Her enc…
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Mat and Justin talk about the legacy of Howard Thurman and how we can direct our beliefs into actions for justice in the community.By Hyde Park United Methodist
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Voices of Inspiration, Part 3 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // July 14, 2024
20:36
20:36
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Howard Thurman was one of the greatest preachers, writers, and mystics of the 20th century. His book “Jesus and the Disinherited” was a landmark work that invited us to see Jesus on the side of the oppressed, and inspired us to work through non-violent means to bring justice and social change. Every day, Thurman read Psalm 139, as a source of stren…
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Mat and Magrey dive deeper into Mother Teresa's story, paying particular attention to her own struggles with doubt, faith, and God's perceived absence. We talk about what we can learn from that today and how we can manage our own anxieties and fears. Resources: "The Questions Jesus Asked" Magrey deVega https://a.co/d/05e3zfA1 "Come Be My Light" Mot…
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Voices of Inspiration, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // July 7, 2024
20:12
20:12
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Mother Theresa of Calcutta was the greatest charitable force in our lifetimes. She inspired us to give of ourselves humbly and obediently for the sake of the poor and needy, regardless of the cost. Hers was a living embodiment of the psalmist’s words, to “raise the poor out of dust, and the needy out of the ash heap.” Her life and witness is captur…
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Mat and Magrey sit down to discuss the impact Dietrich Bonhoeffer had on Magrey's calling to ministry and the conflict between our inner and outer selves.By Hyde Park United Methodist
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Voices of Inspiration, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 30, 2024
21:07
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the most significant martyrs of the 20th century, whose courageous stance against the Hitler and Christian Nationalism continues to inspire us. In his famous book “The Cost of Discipleship,” he calls the church to remember that when God calls people to follow him, he “calls them to come and die.” HydeParkUMC.org/NextS…
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Hard to Believe, Part 5 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // June 23, 2024
18:17
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Prayer is the lifeblood of the disciple of Jesus. In his final days with the disciples, Mark told the disciples in Mark that their faith would allow them to pray with such conviction and confidence that whatever they asked for would be granted to them by God. But that belief carries an important precaution. Prayer is not a cosmic vending machine, t…
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Hard to Believe, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 16, 2024
19:23
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For many, the existence of suffering and evil in the world is the greatest hurdle to full faith and belief in God. It seems irreconcilable that a God who is all-powerful and all-loving could allow the presence of pain and hardship. It is a dilemma that preacher and biblical scholar Tom Long called “the impossible chess match,” in which there is no …
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Hard to Believe, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 9, 2024
19:06
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The early church theologian Anselm defined God as “a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.” This central premise led to the classic “omni” qualities of God: Omnipresence (God is everywhere), omnipotence (God is all powerful), and omnipresent (God is all knowing). These qualities have occasionally been problematic for us due to the pres…
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Hard to Believe, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // June 2, 2024
17:53
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The dual nature of Jesus is central to Christian belief. We believe Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine. It is as difficult to understand this concept empirically (1+1=1) as it is to believe in the trinity (1+1+1=1). But claiming the full humanity and divinity of Jesus allows us to have a full relationship with God, who through Christ is both grea…
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Hard to Believe, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // May 26, 2024
16:50
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The doctrine of the trinity is one of the most essential tenets of the Christian faith. It is also the hardest to explain and understand rationally. By claiming our belief in the triune God, we not only allow for the mystery of God’s nature and activity; we also discover how to fully live a trinitarian life, the way God intends. HydeParkUMC.org/Nex…
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Pentecost Sunday // Logan Kijanski // May 19, 2024
14:11
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The arrival of the Holy Spirit not only birthed the church. It also inaugurated a new way of experiencing the power and presence of God, which is the very same way we can experience God today: invisible, but active, and very real. HydeParkUMC.org/NextStepsBy Hyde Park United Methodist
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 6 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // May 12, 2024
18:05
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Walking was the most common form of transport in both the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman World. Roads were important facets of the landscape; they enhanced travel, promoted safety and commerce, and improved connections between communities. Many biblical references use the image of a road or path as a metaphor for the faithful life. Disciples…
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 5 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // May 5, 2024
18:38
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Rivers and streams in the Bible symbolize places of refreshment and nourishment. Elijah was fed by a brook. Jesus was baptized in the river. The Israelites found hope when God parted the Jordan for them so they could enter the Promised Land. Psalm 1 describes the law of God, which enables a person to be planted like a tree in water. We all need tim…
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 4 // Mat Hotho // April 28, 2024
17:04
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The heavens declare the glory of God, says the Psalmist. Often throughout the Bible, the skies symbolized the promise and hope of God. The skies contained a rainbow that signified an end to the flood. The pillar of fire and cloud in the sky led the Israelites through the exodus. And in 1 Kings, Elijah instructed his servant to look into the skies f…
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 21, 2024
19:02
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The wilderness and desert are two of the most common natural landscapes in the Bible. Psalm 107 captures how the desert can be a place of loneliness, stress, and anxiety, which are common experiences for us today. But just as every biblical figure who entered the wilderness discovered, the desert is also a place to experience God’s presence in a ne…
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 14, 2024
16:16
16:16
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Just as there are mountaintops in life, so there are valleys. The most famous reference to a valley in the Bible is in Psalm 23, where it depicts the long shadow of grief and loss. This service invites us to name our grief and loss, and points us toward healthy ways to process that grief and find hope. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions…
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Life's Highs & Lows, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // April 7, 2024
18:56
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Psalms 120-134 are often referred to as the “Psalms of Ascent,” which would have been uttered as the Israelites ascended the Temple Mount to experience the presence of God. The Bible is filled with “mountaintop moments,” when people experienced God personally and intimately. This service invites us to ask when we have had such moments in our lives,…
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Easter Sunday Message // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 31, 2024
18:14
18:14
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In Mark’s Easter gospel, the power of the resurrection through Christ can redeem the lingering guilt and shame of our yesterdays, the real time struggle and suffering of our present days, and the fear and anxiety of our tomorrows. God’s resurrection power is timeless, resilient, and always with us. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1.…
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 24, 2024
17:00
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The story of Holy Week begins with shouts of Hosanna, but by week’s end, those shouts become cries to murder Jesus. Holy Week is an invitation for us to locate ourselves in the story, and ask, as the old hymn says, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/Easter Reflection Questions: 1. For what reason…
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 17, 2024
18:46
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Jesus compared his imminent death on the cross to the burial of a seed, which is necessary in order for it to spring to new life. Likewise, once we are willing to have Jesus put to death the sin in our lives, we can be raised to new life in Christ. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. What is the most challenging aspect of these words…
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 4 // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // March 10, 2024
19:24
19:24
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This all-too-familiar story from John 3 captures the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night. It is in the midst of their conversation about being born again that Jesus says the iconic words of John 3:16. Just as Nicodemus came to Jesus in the dark, out of fear of his reputation and a sense of self-preservation, Jesus c…
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // March 3, 2024
17:14
17:14
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The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) all place the turning of the tables in the Temple in the middle of Holy Week, after the triumphal entry in Jerusalem. John places the story much, much earlier, right at the outset of the ministry of Jesus. By doing this, John makes the overturning of the tables a preamble to all of Jesus’ miracles and …
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 25, 2024
18:49
18:49
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The ministry of Jesus was full of reversals. Rather than feed our ego-driven, self-centered tendencies to focus on our own needs, he called us to lose ourselves, serve others, and give our lives for others. These reversals invert contemporary wisdom and right-size our lives for God. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions 1. How are you alik…
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In the Shadow of the Cross, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 18, 2024
14:29
14:29
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The story of the temptation of Jesus offers us a guide for how to deal with the temptations in our lives, and shift our orientation away from ourselves and toward the benefit of other people. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions 1. What lessons did you learn as a child regarding handling your emotions in a healthy way? 2. What emotions do…
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Transfiguration Sunday // The Rev. Sally Campbell Evans // February 11, 2024
19:54
19:54
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In Mark’s gospel, the Transfiguration serves as the halfway point in the story of Jesus. It is a marked shift away from the miracles and teachings of Jesus to the journey of Jesus to the cross. Likewise, we need to make a similar shift in our discipleship, away from merely benefiting from Jesus and toward surrender to Jesus and the cross. HydeParkU…
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You Are Not Alone, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // February 4, 2024
14:30
14:30
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Perhaps the greatest cause of our loneliness and disconnectedness is the tense political and social climate. What if there was a way to bridge differences and have civil conversations about tough issues? What would that look like and could we model that new way of being? HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps 15 Practical Guidelines from Romans 12:9–21 1.Our lo…
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You Are Not Alone, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 28, 2024
18:37
18:37
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Being in a lasting, caring friendship is a true gift. Healthy friendships encourage us when we are down, tell us hard truths when we are reluctant to hear it, and help us be our best selves. HydeparkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. In what ways has your number of friends or closeness of friendships changed over the last several years? 2. …
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You Are Not Alone, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 21, 2024
14:41
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Even though families are comprised of a variety of types and dynamics, we were all born into one, and we know the kinds of strains, misgivings, and stress that families can bring us. This service will explore biblical insights in strengthening our marriages, our parenting, and our relationships with other family members. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps R…
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You Are Not Alone, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // January 14, 2024
21:04
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Baptism is the entry rite into Christian community. Our vows remind us that we are called to be part of the church, which Christ has opened to all people. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. What is your favorite memory of a baptism? 2. What do you think God is doing in a baptism? 3. What difference does baptism make for you, in how …
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You Are Not Alone, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // January 7, 2024
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In Genesis, we discover that God’s creation of the first human being was incomplete until the creation of companionship. We are intrinsically wired to be in connection with other people. God said it was not good for us to be alone; in fact, we are not. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. Who is the person (or the people) in your life…
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What God Gave You on Christmas is Jesus // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 31, 2023
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Just as Anna and Simeon received the baby Jesus and gained new hope for the future, we are to take the gift of Christmas and carry it with us all year round. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. How long do you tend to keep your Christmas decorations up in your house? 2. What memories do you have this past Christmas of different gener…
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What God Wants for Christmas, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 24, 2023
11:42
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We are all familiar with the Nativity story. We know of Mary and Joseph, of the shepherds and the angels. But what about the setting? The stable and the manager? We take a closer look at the setting of the Christmas story and what implications it has on our lives. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions 1. What are your favorite images and s…
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What God Wants for Christmas, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 17, 2023
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Advent is a time of anticipating joy, exemplified in the Magnificat of Mary. Her soul rejoiced at the prospect of the arrival of justice, equality, and liberation for all people. That vision should both encourage us and motivate us to offer joy to others. HydeParkUMC.org/Christmas HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. When has fear eve…
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What God Wants For Christmas, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // December 10, 2023
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Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, foretold by John the Baptist, who called us to “make his paths straight.” This can serve as a metaphor for peace-building and peace-making, which is at the heart of our Advent preparations. We should strive to be agents of peace, in our relationships with others. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Hyd…
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What God Wants for Christmas, Part 1 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // December 3, 2023
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Advent is a time of watching and waiting in expectation of the inbreaking of God’s power and love to be among us. We should not lose hope, and we should remain attentive and ready to respond. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/Chirstmas Reflection Questions - What are you waiting for, longing for, hoping for – deep in your heart – this Adven…
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Christ the King Sunday // The Rev. Justin LaRosa // November 26, 2023
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Calling Jesus Lord is not just a statement we make; it is a life we choose to live. He is the pre-eminent expression of God’s full character and behavior. In him, we discover our truest purpose and meaning in life, and to him, we are called to be obedient and faithful.By Hyde Park United Methodist
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Love For All, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 19, 2023
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The parable of the mustard seed is one of Jesus’ most famous and familiar parables. It reminds us that small acts of generosity, no matter how insignificant it seems, can be used by God to multiply into wider impact for a wide host of people. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/LoveForAll HydeParkUMC.org/EOG Reflection Questions: What new ins…
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Love For All, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // November 12, 2023
19:32
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Our faithful generosity is a response to the generosity of God, who calls us to be responsible caretakers of all our resources. By saving, spending, and giving faithfully, we can create a storehouse of treasure that will be a solid foundation for the future of God’s kingdom, and help us “take hold of that which is truly life.” HydeParkUMC.org/NextS…
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Love For All, Part 2 // The Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans // November 5, 2023
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We have been given an inheritance by God, which is the richness of grace and salvation, passed down through the generations. On this day when we celebrate the saints who have gone before us, we give thanks for their enduring example of faithfulness and generosity, and pledge to live out their legacy in our faithful giving. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps…
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Love For All, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 29, 2023
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Our generosity begins with the generosity of God, who calls us to be in a special relationship together, for the benefit of the world. This is the basis of the important biblical concept of covenant, seen most vividly in the call of Abraham. And just as Abraham gave a tenth of his belongings as a response to God’s covenant, we are called to be gene…
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Missions Celebration Sunday // The Rev. Paul Chilcote // Ocotober 22, 2023
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As we recognize and celebrate of missions partners this week, we are reminded of the Great Commission. As followers of Jesus, we are charged with bringing the scriptural truth to all the world. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘missions’? 2. In what way is God calling you to be a light…
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Good & Faithful, Part 6 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 15, 2023
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Jesus calls us to forgive, no questions asked, or excuses accepted. It is a requirement of all those who would choose to call themselves Christian. HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps Reflection Questions: 1. What do you think is the relationship between 1) God’s forgiveness of us, and 2) our forgiveness of others? 2. What for…
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Good & Faithful, Part 5 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 8, 2023
19:43
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Love is the chief distinguishing feature of a follower of Jesus. It is one whom, in Wesley’s words, the “love of God has been shed abroad in their hearts.” The Great Commandment (attested in each of the synoptic gospels) is a vivid expression of this call to love. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful Reflection Questions: 1. Ho…
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Good & Faithful, Part 4 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // October 1, 2023
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God calls us to seek the way of justice, which is a central norm of the Hebrew scriptures and an integral part of Jesus’ vision for the kingdom. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful Reflection Questions: 1. What is your understanding of justice? What new things did you discover about justice that are helpful? 2. How will you li…
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Good & Faithful, Part 3 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 24, 2023
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We are called by God to contribute to the flourishing of all human beings, because every person is of sacred worth. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful Reflection Questions: 1. How do you understand the sacredness of life to be an essential part of Christian character and ethics? 2. When have you ever felt “out of tune” with G…
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Good and Faithful, Part 2 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 17, 2023
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We live in a world where adherence to agreed notions of truth is elusive. We are more prone to seeing deceit, delusion, and distraction rather than truth. Good and faithful Christians claim the truth of God, even if it is uncomfortable and inconvenient. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful Reflection Questions: 1. In what ways …
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Good and Faithful, Part 1 // The Rev. Magrey deVega // September 10, 2023
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God has made us to be a spectacle “theatron” of the world, so we should model the kind of holy life to which we have been called. HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps HydeParkUMC.org/GoodandFaithful Reflection Questions: 1. What do you think constitutes good character? 2. Which of the five qualities do you emulate best, and which do you have to work on? 3. Wh…
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