Midway Christian Church Sermon Podcast

Part 5: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening, June 7, 2026

Midway Christian Church sermon for June 7, 2026 Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian, Church, Midway KY Worship Series: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening “What does it mean to ‘grow in the Spirit’ in a world that often feels divided and exhausted? In this series, we move beyond seeing the Fruit of the Spirit as a checklist for individual perfection. Instead, we explore these nine virtues—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as collective practices of resistance and restoration. Drawing on our Disciples’ identity as a ‘People of the Table,’ we will ask how the Spirit’s work in us expands our capacity for radical hospitality and social justice. We aren’t just growing fruit for ourselves; we are inviting hope to bloom in our community and in our world. Join us as we learn to be spiritual gardeners, opening ourselves to God’s Spirit which is always moving us toward inclusion, wholeness, and the Beloved Community of God” Part 5: “Kindness as Radical Hospitality” Luke 14:7-24 Kindness can mean different things to different people. The meaning is in how YOU choose to show it. Be it through empathy, acceptance, kind gestures, thoughtfulness, the possibilities are entirely up to you. Kindness might look like being helpful or showing empathy. It may mean doing nice things without expecting nice things in return. Kindness is more than being nice. Kindness goes beyond merely being nice. …Being kind is doing intentional, voluntary acts of kindness. Not only when it’s easy to be kind, but when it’s hard to be. Kindness is a movement.” (charactercounts.org/digital_classroom/kindness-101/) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.midwaychristian.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org] Theology Tuesday - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/] Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j] Sermon Library - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/]

Part 4: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening, May 31, 2026

Midway Christian Church sermon for May 31, 2026 Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian, Church, Midway KY Worship Series: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening “What does it mean to ‘grow in the Spirit’ in a world that often feels divided and exhausted? In this series, we move beyond seeing the Fruit of the Spirit as a checklist for individual perfection. Instead, we explore these nine virtues—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as collective practices of resistance and restoration. Drawing on our Disciples’ identity as a ‘People of the Table,’ we will ask how the Spirit’s work in us expands our capacity for radical hospitality and social justice. We aren’t just growing fruit for ourselves; we are inviting hope to bloom in our community and in our world. Join us as we learn to be spiritual gardeners, opening ourselves to God’s Spirit which is always moving us toward inclusion, wholeness, and the Beloved Community of God” Part 4: “Patience as Persistence” Luke 11:9-10; Galatians 6:7-10 From the Psalmist crying out, wondering where God was in all the mess, to the disciples, hiding in the upper room, for generations, this tiredness, this weariness has been an undercurrent in our faith, to our faith. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.midwaychristian.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org] Theology Tuesday - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/] Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j] Sermon Library - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/]

“How will you respond when the Spirit moves?” Acts 1:12-14, May 24, 2026

Midway Christian Church/Historic Second Christian Church sermon for May 24, 2026 Pastor Rick Smith, Historic Second Christian, Church, Midway KY “How will you respond when the Spirit moves?” Acts 1:12-14 Jesus has ascended into heaven and the disciples are now waiting. For what at this point, they do not know. All they know is that Jesus tells them before he leaves, that they will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. In response to this news, they gather in the upper room and "all were united in their devotion to prayer, along with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." HSCC - https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/798 [https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/798]MCC - https://www.midwaychristian.org [https://www.midwaychristian.org]Theology Tuesday - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/] Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midway-christian⁠⁠⁠ [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/midway-christian] Sermon Library - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/]

Part 3: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening, May 17, 2026

Midway Christian Church sermon for May 17, 2026 Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian, Church, Midway KY Worship Series: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening “What does it mean to ‘grow in the Spirit’ in a world that often feels divided and exhausted? In this series, we move beyond seeing the Fruit of the Spirit as a checklist for individual perfection. Instead, we explore these nine virtues—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as collective practices of resistance and restoration. Drawing on our Disciples’ identity as a ‘People of the Table,’ we will ask how the Spirit’s work in us expands our capacity for radical hospitality and social justice. We aren’t just growing fruit for ourselves; we are inviting hope to bloom in our community and in our world. Join us as we learn to be spiritual gardeners, opening ourselves to God’s Spirit which is always moving us toward inclusion, wholeness, and the Beloved Community of God” Part 3: “Peace as Shalom” Ephesians 2:11-22 Paul reminds us that Jesus brought about a new beginning, bringing together all of humankind into one Body, that this peace which Jesus gives is not an absence of conflict. Rather it is its own presence. It creates something positive. It makes something wonderful possible. Paul reminds us that this peace Jesus brings is not about feeling calm. It is about becoming whole, about being complete. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.midwaychristian.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org] Theology Tuesday - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/] Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j] Sermon Library - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/]

Part 2: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening, May 10, 2026

Midway Christian Church sermon for May 10, 2026 Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian, Church, Midway KY Worship Series: Hope in Bloom: Practicing Spiritual Gardening “What does it mean to ‘grow in the Spirit’ in a world that often feels divided and exhausted? In this series, we move beyond seeing the Fruit of the Spirit as a checklist for individual perfection. Instead, we explore these nine virtues—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as collective practices of resistance and restoration. Drawing on our Disciples’ identity as a ‘People of the Table,’ we will ask how the Spirit’s work in us expands our capacity for radical hospitality and social justice. We aren’t just growing fruit for ourselves; we are inviting hope to bloom in our community and in our world. Join us as we learn to be spiritual gardeners, opening ourselves to God’s Spirit which is always moving us toward inclusion, wholeness, and the Beloved Community of God” Part 2: “Joy as Resistance” Psalm 126; Philippians 4:4-8 Joy as resistance is not about avoiding pain. It is about being resilient in the face of grief. We choose joy as an act of faith, a quiet resistance to despair, a testimony to God's ongoing work. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.midwaychristian.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org] Theology Tuesday - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/theology-tuesday/] Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/02LvThUZCYUETnyShPsr2j] Sermon Library - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/⁠⁠ [https://www.midwaychristian.org/sermons/]