Have you ever used the term "scapegoat"? Did you know it comes from the 16th chapter of Leviticus? Let's explore the depth of God's mercy and all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ!Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today we pick up Leviticus 11 that tells us what we can eat and what we must avoid. But then we go to the four chapters we would rather skip - the chapters on body fluids and skin irritations. But can we learn something from the discussion of clean and unclean? Yes, we can.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

This has been such a difficult week that I choose to interupt our series on Leviticus to talk about suffering. We used the Lectionary texts for today of Psalm 22 & Job 23.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

In today's scripture, Moses ordains Aaron and Aaron's sons as the priests who will keep the Tabernacle holy for the presence of God. By the first century, the priests and religious leaders had stopped being the people's representatives to God. Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king, and everything we understand about God should be witnessed through…

We previously looked at the standard sacrificies of burnt offering, grain offering and peace offering. Today, we look at offering regarding sin and guilt. Sin is attitudes, behaviors, and speech that are out of line with God's values. Leviticus differieniates between unintentional sins, intentional sins, and what we might call high-handed or plotte…

This is the second sermon in our series on Leviticus. There are twenty-seven chapters in Leviticus and ten of them are on worship. God is declaring that God cannot be worshiped as other gods are worship. Offering sacrifices are one of the main components of ancient worship and the first six chapters of Leviticus cover the instructions for sacrifice…

This is the first week in our series on the Book of Leviticus. Why is there a book of Leviticus? It is the resolution to an issue in the Sinai wilderness. How does God live among God's people when God's holiness is so powerful. Leviticus is the temporary answer. Times will change but God's holiness is unchanging.…

How will the world find out about Jesus. The Church. We are called to be the Light and the Salt. If we are doing it right, everyone should want to know Jesus.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Every great Olympic athlete has a place of training. It is there that they receive the best coaching, the best nutrition, the best nutrition, and the best encouragement. They will compete in a different arena, but at their place of training, they are learning and preparing. For those who follow Jesus, the church is our training facility.…

Paul uses the metaphor of the body in speaking about the church. We find this in Romans, I Corinthians, and in Ephesians. He could have used family or team or other metaphors but he uses the body. So let's explore what that means.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Last week, we talked about the joy, the hope, and the promise of God's Kingdom. It is important to remember that because the church is a sign of that kingdom.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

This summer was held Round Robin services at seven of the United Methodist Churches in Columbia, Union, Calhoun and Ouachita Counties. This is my sermon at Norphlet UMC.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

I grew up hearing Hellfire and Brimstone sermons about the coming apocalypse. They warned of fiery pits and terrifying beast. Those sermons were pretty scary then I read the scriptures they left out, like the 365 times the Bible tells us "do not be afraid." Today we talk about end times with a different vision intended to give us hope.…

For God so loved the world that God gave God's only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. We have all been asked, " Have you been saved?" like it is a one time transaction. That is not how Paul describes it and it isn't really the overall picture in the Gospels so what is salvation?…

Today, we are talking about the third person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit and what do it do for us?Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today we talk about Jesus. Who was he and what did God accomplish through him? How are we called to follow him? We look at the seventh chapter of Daniel for the earliest concept of the Son of Man then look to the Christ Hymn in Philippians to understand how to follow him.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Sin was not created by God. It is dischord and it is noise and humans participate in it every day.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Who are we as humans that God is even mindful of us. We were created by intention as instruments of God's grace to care for the earth and to care for each other.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today, we are talking about Providence or how God interacts in our world. There are sopme who believe God directs everything and on the oppostie end, there are those who see God as creator but totally inactive in our world. Most of us are somewhere inbetween.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today, we talk about the Creation. Did you know the Hebrew verb "to create" is used in the Old testament many times but when it is used, there is only one subject and only one creator, God.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

The week starts our new Sermon Series on what we believe. Sometime we become so comfortable with what we think we know, we forget about what we do not know and what we cannot know. We learn very little when we are comfortable but we can learn so much when we are uncomfortable. Today, our first lesson begins, as it should, with what we can know abou…

In this last sermon on Paul's Letter to the Galatians, we explore our own motives as we confront sin - in others and in ourselves.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

In the Fifth Chapter of Galatians, Paul is challenging the church to a journey of faith and hope, led by the Holy Spirit. This chapter is the most persuasive argument of the church's need to be spirit led.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Paul challenged the Galatians by telling them the missionaries from Jerusalem were wrong. They did not need to being in good standing with the Old Covenant to become mmbers of the New Covenant. So I'm wondering if it is wrong to tell LGBTQ individuals they must become straight before they are fully included in the New Covenant.…

The new kingdom Jesus presents in not the resurrection of the old kingdom of God found in the Hebrew Bible. The old Kingdom was a physical kingdom with boundaries and politics. The new Kingdom has no boundaries. It expands only when Jesus changes a heart and mind.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

If you do not understand the story of Abraham, you will not understand Paul's theology. Abraham was not redeemed by the Law; he was redeem by faith.

Paul began his ministry as a Pharisee, sworn to abide by and protect the law then he encountered Jesus. Paul's call was to the Gentiles. Paul's call was to preach salvation by faith alone in the grace of Jesus Christ. Peter knew this but took heat from the church in Jerusalem where they followed Jesus and kept the law. It is a debate we have been h…

In every letter of Paul, both the seven certain and the two maybes, there is a greeting followed by a prayer of thanksgiving except one - Galatians. Why is Galatians different? That is what we will be learning in this seven week series.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

On this Easter Sunday, we take a look at the two disciples walking home to Emmaus. This story is a real story of discipleship. We walk together, we listen to the word, and we receive grace in the breaking of the bread together.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

According to the gospel of Luke, Jesus spent his last week on earth teaching at the Temple in Jerusalem. He told his followers they might be persecuted but do not hire a lawyer to prepare a defense. Prepare your faith to be steadfast.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today we talk about excessive pride. We look at a short passage in the ninth chapter of Luke that contains three examples of the damage pride can cause.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Joy! The religious leaders complaining that Jesus was hanging out with the wrong people in the wrong places certainly did not have it. So Jesus told them three stories. We look at the first two today!Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Most of us wish there was a magic formula that could keep those we love away from harm. That secret wish reveals itself when we hear of a tragedy and want to believe it was not random. Jesus is tells his disciples that it is. Then he says, Repent or you will die. Yikes! Thank goodness a parable comes to explain.…

In the 13th chapter of Luke, Jesus is standing on the Mount of Olives, looking over the Kidron Valley to the Temple Mount. There, he expresses a deep lament for the past, present, and future of Jerusalem. Today, we lament how our world has changed.

The first Sunday of Lent always includes a the story of Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. Why? The temptations of Jesus mirrors the temptations that snag us all - appetite, status, and control.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Today, we look at the Transfiguration story. We usually emphasize the glory shone but maybe we need to listen to what god has to say.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

This week we explore Luke's Sermon on the Plain which is similar to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount but abbreviated and given to the disciples, not to thousands. If you choose to follow Jesus, you are expected to take a different direction in the way you live life. Discipleship is caring for your neighbor's well being as much as your own.…

Today, in Luke 5:1-11, we find Peter, James, John, and Andrew returning from an all night fishing adventure having caught nothing. Jesus shows up and turns things around.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Jesus went to his hometown and ended up being the preacher for the service. He chose to read from the prophet, Isaiah, chapter 61. He told the truth to his hometown crowd and they did not like it.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

This week we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by remembering our own baptism.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

An epiphany is defined as a manifestation of the Divine. In the turmoil of our world and the newness of this year, we all need an epiphany.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

This Christmas Eve we think about Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. He was born in oppression but today, he would have been born in the Bethlehem of the West Bank.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Discipleship starts at somepoint in our lives and continues for eternity unless we decide we know enough. If we stop striving and if we stop being curious, we do not become all god has called us to be. Simeon and Anna were old but God gave them what God promised.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Ever notice how loud truth seems to be. when you hear it, you may not want to listen but it is there and you should. Artist are truth tellers. So was John the Baptist.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

It has always baffled me how people of faith in the Bible are terrifed by angels. Today we look at Zechariah's reaction when Gabriel shows up in the Temple to tell him Good News!Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Revelations 19 describes the wedding feast of the Lamb, an event we all hope to attend!Oleh Beth A Waldrup

The Gospel of John tells the story of the Last Supper in a way that seems to emphasize foot washing over communion but maybe he is telling us something even more important. His first miracle is making wine at the wedding in Cana. In the sixth chapter of John he feeds the multitudes then goes into a long discussion of bread. Let's explore this today…

In our sermon today, we will begin looking at feasts in the New Testament. Jesus does not just use food and banquets in his parables, we often finding him celebrating with those the church rejects.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

My sermon schedule is typically set at least three months in advance. On occasion the text is exactly what needs to be explored given the events of the week, Today, the sermon is the story of Esther.Oleh Beth A Waldrup

Many of us look at the rules in Scripture but what if we look at the instructions for hospitality instead. The 18th Chapter of Genesis is hospitality well done and hospitality refused. It is an amazing constrast. You cannot have a feast without hospitality.Oleh Beth A Waldrup