Fumc Tulsa

Did Jesus really rise from the dead? This is THE question on which our entire faith stands or falls.The evidence is overwhelming: an empty tomb that even Jesus' opponents couldn't dispute, over 500 eyewitnesses who saw and interacted with Him, apostles who willingly died for what they knew was true, and 2,000 years of changed lives. This isn't mythology written decades later—Paul documented these eyewitness accounts in 1 Corinthians 15 just 20 years after the resurrection, while most witnesses were still alive to verify the truth.The tomb is empty. The evidence is clear. The invitation is open.

Who is Jesus really? Not just a moral teacher or historical figure, but the living Lord who looks into your soul and says, "I see you. I know you. I am here with you."When Jesus entered His public ministry, even those closest to Him—John the Baptist, His own family—were seized with awe. The blind saw, the lame walked, the dead were raised. He wasn't just another rabbi. He stood in the place of God, renewing Israel by calling twelve apostles while remaining above them all. Children shouted "Hosanna!"—a cry reserved only for God—as He entered Jerusalem.

Why does a good and powerful God allow suffering? This question stops many from faith. But here's what we discovered this Sunday: God didn't create us as puppets on strings. He gave us freedom—the very thing that makes love possible and makes us human. The real challenge isn't intellectual—it's deeply personal. When we hurt, we don't need theological explanations. We need to know God is WITH us.

Ever wonder if we can truly know God? Psalm 19 reminds us that "the heavens declare the glory of God" - His fingerprints are everywhere in creation. From the perfect order of the universe to the longing planted deep in every human heart, God reveals Himself to us. God speaks through creation's beauty and through His Word. Both general and special revelation invite us to know Him - His power, His nature, His love. The question isn't whether God can be known, but whether we're willing to see what He's already showing us.

This week we tackled life's most fundamental question: Is God real? Using logic, science, and reason, we discovered that the universe's beginning points to an all-powerful, all-knowing, personal Creator. The scientific evidence for a cosmic beginning actually confirms what our hearts have always known—we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who loves us.

This Sunday, we began a new series on Christian apologetics—the reasoned defense of our faith. The sermon explored why we live in what Tim Keller calls a "paradoxical time," where both fervent faith and deep skepticism are rising simultaneously. We examined how Christianity isn't just good—it's true—and as C.S. Lewis reminded us, if it's true, it's of infinite importance. Most importantly, we learned that the motivation behind apologetics must always be love—love for God and love for those who don't yet know Him.

The message explored the mysterious journey of the wise men from the East and what their arrival at the manger means for each of us today. While many details about these travelers remain unclear—where exactly they came from, how many there were, even their true identity—one thing is crystal clear: God chose these Gentile foreigners to reveal that Jesus came not only as the Savior of the Jews but as the Light to all nations.

The message explored the theological truth that Jesus Christ is not merely a part of our lives, but the center around which everything finds its meaning and purpose. Drawing from Colossians 1, we were reminded that in Christ "all things were created" and "in him all things hold together." Through reflections on both the nativity scene and Leonardo da Vinci's depiction of the Last Supper, we saw how Jesus brings together people from vastly different backgrounds—shepherds and wise men, zealots and tax collectors, doubters and deniers—reconciling all things to himself through the cross.

The sermon explored the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth—a righteous couple who struggled with infertility for years—and how God used their situation to reveal His glory and advance His redemptive plan. Through the angel Gabriel's message that "your prayer has been heard," we see that God works through our seasons of barrenness and waiting. When the pregnant Mary fled to her older cousin Elizabeth for refuge and wisdom, we witnessed a beautiful picture of intergenerational faith and spiritual parenting. This story challenges us to reject the world's attempts to divide generations and instead embrace our calling to mentor and be mentored, to nurture and be nurtured in the faith.

The message explored Joseph's crucial but often forgotten role in the nativity story, comparing him to a "paceman" in a race—someone whose contribution makes the victory possible, even if they don't receive the glory. Matthew's Gospel reveals Joseph as an ordinary man facing extraordinary circumstances: betrayal, confusion, and a complete disruption of his life plans. Yet when God called him through an angel in a dream, Joseph simply got up and did what was asked of him—no recorded words, just faithful action.

This Sunday's sermon explored the dual meaning of Advent—not only as a celebration of Christ's birth over 2,000 years ago, but also as a time of expectant waiting for His promised return. Through the lens of young Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel, we discovered that we are not meant to be passive observers of the Christmas story. Instead, God has appointed us as "watchmen on the walls"—those who bear witness to Christ's coming and fulfill ancient prophecies simply by proclaiming His arrival.

The sermon explored how true greatness is measured not by worldly achievements, but by the quality of our faithfulness to God. King Josiah stands alone among Israel's kings as one who "did not turn to the right or to the left"—fulfilling both Moses' command and God's charge to Joshua. Despite inheriting a kingdom steeped in idolatry and being surrounded by impossible circumstances, Josiah rolled up his sleeves and got to work restoring the temple and renewing God's people. His story reminds us that when we feel stuck in spiritual or practical ruts, we don't wait for inspiration to strike—we simply begin doing what faithful people do.

The sermon explored the story of King Josiah and the vital connection between renovation and renewal in our spiritual lives. King Josiah's response to discovering the Book of the Law wasn't just to renovate the temple physically—he called the entire nation to covenant renewal. His example challenges us to recognize that our current Vision campaign isn't merely about fixing buildings and systems; it's fundamentally about opening ourselves to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.

The sermon explored the nature of biblical courage through King Josiah's response to discovering God's Word during temple renovation. We learned that courage isn't cowardice (running from threats) or foolhardiness (rushing ahead without wisdom), but rather doing the right thing, for the right reasons, in the right context. When Josiah heard the Book of the Law, he didn't ignore it or minimize its demands—he tore his robes in repentance and sought the Lord. This teaches us that while physical renovations matter, God's primary desire is to renovate our hearts.

The sermon explored the vital connection between honoring our spiritual ancestors and planning faithfully for the future. Through the story of King Josiah discovering the "Book of the Law" (Deuteronomy) during temple renovations, we were reminded that God's instruction manual for faithful living comes to us through the testimony of those who walked before us. Just as Josiah needed the wisdom of previous generations to guide his reforms, we too must draw on the "ancient paths" to find our way forward. This has profound implications for our spiritual life—we are not isolated individuals but part of a great chain of faithful witnesses, called to receive what has been entrusted to us and pass it on to those who come after.

This week's sermon launched our Vision 2030 stewardship campaign by exploring the story of King Josiah from 2 Kings 22-23. Just as Josiah faced immense challenges when he became king at age eight—caught between three superpowers and inheriting a spiritually compromised kingdom—we too must decide what to do with the time and circumstances in which we live. The sermon challenged us not to rest on past glory, indulge in comfort, or be paralyzed by difficulties, but instead to choose the best possible path: wholehearted faithfulness to God that leads to both physical and spiritual renewal.

The sermon explored how faith in Christ fundamentally changes our perspective. Dr. Watson emphasized that accepting Christ means seeing the world through the lens of the cross, which appears foolish to many but is the wisdom and power of God for those being saved. This new perspective challenges our worldly values and invites us to embrace God's wisdom, which often contradicts human logic.

The sermon explored the intersection of prayer and evangelism, emphasizing how our church's strong foundation in prayer can become our primary tool for sharing the Gospel. Pastor Andrew highlighted the need for our congregation to become more evangelistic while staying true to our spiritual DNA of prayer. He used the story of Paul and Barnabas in Lystra from Acts 14 to illustrate how God's power can be misunderstood in a pagan culture, but that shouldn't deter us from public expressions of faith.

This message explored the concept of intercessory prayer through the lens of Mark 2:1-12, where four men carry a paralyzed man to Jesus. We learned that our faith can be a powerful tool to bring healing and transformation to others, even when they lack faith themselves. This understanding challenges us to be more intentional in our prayer lives and in how we support those around us who are struggling.

The sermon explored the reality of spiritual warfare and demonic attacks, emphasizing Jesus' power and authority over evil spirits. It highlighted the importance of recognizing these spiritual realities while maintaining our primary focus on Christ. The sermon also shared a personal testimony of experiencing spiritual attacks and the importance of being prepared to face them.