Burke UMC

July 25, 2021, 9th Sunday After Pentecost  "Let's Stay Home-What Could Go Wrong?"  In this passage from the lectionary, it is the season of spring. As the army is at war, David decides to stay home in his palace. Here is just the beginning of David's problems. David informed the people he would lead them and shepherd them. However, we find that David is not where he is supposed to be. Pastor Killam reminds us that God doesn't intend this life for us. We travel back on all of David's indiscretions and become reminded of how Jesus also accepted him. It is through this story we see that Jesus also grants us acceptance. What happened to David when he stayed home? As you read all the excuses found for staying home, one after another, it begins to run thin. So society stays out because they prefer to do so. These excuses are mere afterthoughts. It is often in church that we become challenged to expand our horizons. Are you on your own? That is the recipe to languish, becoming anxious and weary. Maybe it's leaving you not to attempt anything as audacious as self-improvement. While the positive encouragements we hear in the church give us the daring to dream beyond our means. It is in church, you hear about becoming a saint. Maybe this is a difficult task, but it can endow your life with purpose. Becoming a church member might mean leaving behind the comfort of individualism and voluntarily allowing yourself to be bound to others. So here shines the beautiful picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we do this because Jesus joyfully left behind his comfort and bound himself to us. It is our responsibility to make the presence of God a place where we dwell.  Notes: Fixed mono audio. Tracks are now exported in stereo.

8th Sunday After Pentecost  Today's message comes from the lectionary and includes 2 Samuel chapter 7 verses 1-14. Pastor Kilam asks have you put God in a box? Are you reconstructing God's home for his glory or your own? In this passage does David want to build a house for God or himself? There are times when our grand human plans to do something for God are seen, after a night of prayer, to be a huge human distraction from what God is doing for us. That's what Nathan realized that night: God showed Nathan that David's building plans for God would interfere with God's building plans for David. It was David who wished to build a temple-house, but instead, God chose to build a greater dynasty-house. The marvelous plans for a house are magnificently more complex than David could have ever imagined. David will not construct a temple for God. However, God promises to build a lasting dynasty for David. Does God even need a temple to reach the people he seeks to minister? Remember the ministry of Jesus was outside of the temple anyway (2 Samuel 7:6). History would remind David (and us) that it has always been God helping us, not us helping God. Pastor Killam reminds us that God already has a home in our hearts. God lives not only in people but in our thoughts and our prayers. Even more importantly, God lives in our actions. So do you want God to have a home? We have to garner the timbers and stones that create God's house. What kind of home are you going to build?

Sunday, July 11, 2021, 7th Sunday After Pentecost  Pastor Killam reads from Ezekiel 37:1-10 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037%3A1-10&version=NIV] as he examines zombie churches.  There are zombie churches everywhere. Soulless churches where dull persons feast. Where legitimate life has vanished, and in its place is something …scary. Lifeless. Jesus is the origin of life. When we get disconnected from Jesus and what he is doing in the world around us, we become detached from life. Just because a church loses its connection doesn’t mean it closes its doors. Think of zombie churches as churches that are contaminated. They are contagious. Instead of offering people a real, reconstructed relationship with the Creator of the universe, they bring hollow rituals and pointless routines. All the motions seem right, but something is missing.  Pastor Killam calls on us to transform not just our relationship with Christ but to reconstruct our church.  Update: Audio quality enhanced with new hardware.  HTTP://www.burke-umc.org [http://www.burke-umc.org]

Sunday, June 27, 2021, Fifth Sunday After Pentecost Pastor Doran asks has a Christ-event happened in your life? Have you looked back only to realize you had experienced Christ? How many times in your life have you had a Christ event? A Christ event is Jesus responding to our needs, giving us fulfillment. We desire to reach out to Jesus Christ for another Christ event in our life. Incarnation - Christ comes to us. Christ, the Word made flesh. Crucifixion - Christ died for us. Christ covers & atones. Resurrection - Christ rose from the dead. Christ lives to reign & rule.

Pastor Waters Smart or Brilliant, Stand Firm pt. 2  Nov. 25, 2019