Exodus Archives - Hopeland United Methodist

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Past Sunday Messages

1 Corinthians

March 15, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

(For the context of future listeners, this sermon was delivered shortly after the government’s warnings and mass shutdowns during the COVID-19 Corona Virus pandemic.) Our final message in our series during the Ten Commandments comes amid a state-wide crisis. And, I received quite a number of inquiries about why would church is remaining open on […]

Acts

Ninth Commandment: A True Testimony

March 10, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

Lying is one of the oldest tools in our belt to try and manipulate our own happiness. C.S. Lewis called it “the only defensive weapon of the child.” But, it is a weapon that we carry with us through our entire lives, even if we don’t use it all the time. Acts 5:1-11 Now a […]

Exodus

Eighth Commandment: Do Not Steal

March 1, 2020 By Pastor Russ Eberly

You do not have to steal to be happy, and when we steal, we are saying that sin is necessary for our happiness and success in life. Pastor Russ takes us through the famous story of the Prodigal Son, showing us what happens when short-term happiness is our goal rather than an eternal one with […]

2 Samuel

Seventh Commandment: A Broken Covenant

February 23, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

The commandment against adultery is more than just a commandment against cheating. This is a commandment that carries the weight of maintaining a covenant promise. It is a strong betrayal that only God can find a way to redeem. 2 Samuel 12:1-13 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, […]

Exodus

Sixth Commandment: A Life Taken

February 16, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

The sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not murder,” is one that our society pretty reasonably understands. Murder is not something that has in general never been smiled upon by societies. So why did God put this here, if it seems so common? And how does this basic tenet of decency relate to the Ten Commandments as […]

Exodus

Fifth Commandment: Duty and Honor

February 9, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

The fifth commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother” as the well-known rendition of the King James Version says, carries with it some extra expectations that were specific to the Israelites that were wandering in the desert. It also begs a question: what does honor look like? And, does the definition of who your “father […]

Exodus

Fourth Commandment: The Holy Sabbath

February 2, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

God commanded the Israelites to keep the Sabbath Holy because on the seventh day of creation God rests. But, why does God rest? And what implications does that have for our lives? Mark 2:23-3:6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of […]

Exodus

Third Commandment: Do Not Misuse the Name of God

January 26, 2020 By Pastor Russ Eberly

The name of God is a holy focus. Jesus’ words about how to pray, and using the word “hallowed,” tells us to take his name seriously. But, why is God so hung up about his name? Matthew 6:9-15 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your […]

Deuteronomy

Second Commandment: No Idols

January 19, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

Idolatry was the chief sin mentioned in the Old Testament that the Israelites struggled with, and that means that most likely, it is the same with us today. But, can an ancient and harsh text really contain contemporary wisdom for our situation? Deuteronomy 13:1-11 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among […]

Deuteronomy

First Commandment: One God

January 12, 2020 By Pastor Paul Miller

There most likely is no more famous verse in the Old Testament among the ancient Israelites and probably even Jewish worshippers today than this passage from the book of Deuteronomy. And we learn that this commandment, from the lips of Jesus Christ, is the most important. That this is the most important commandment is nothing […]