First United Methodist Church New Braunfels

12-06-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:02:14 GMT

The Conspiracy has begun! Tell me what you got for Christmas last year. What about the year before that? Tell me the last time you talked to your buddy from college. I'm wondering if a deeper understanding of Christmas might come from how we honor those we love. Should we give presents or presence? This is an idea that will add richness to your Christmas and benefit those you love. Cookies needed! Last year, our church gave away over 1,500 cookies to people who had to work on Christmas Eve. Everyone who came to Christmas Eve services had a chance to grab a bag and take them to the hospital, fire stations, pharmacies, hotels, even bars! We want to do it again, but we need your help. Make up (or buy!) a few dozen cookies, bag them (3 to a bag) and bring them to church on Dec 20. The Evangelism Team will attach cards and have them ready you to take out into the community on Christmas Eve. Study Guide What have you done this week that has set your course for the manger? In what ways have you seen yourself or others drawn to "Herod-like" things? What are some ideas you've had for conspiring to make Christmas different this year? (Share these with me by replying to this email, I'd love to hear!) Think about a relationship you've let slide that you wish you hadn't. How might you be able to connect again with that person- what would it take? What are some of your favorite Christmas memories? (Do they have to do with stuff or people?)

12-06-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:58:05 GMT

"Put Your Heart Into It" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Jeremiah 29:4-14 (New International Version) 4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD. 10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

11-29-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:01:07 GMT

Gospel Sunday Celebrate the first Sunday of Advent! Christmas is upon us! The church is decorated and November 29 is the first Sunday of Advent, a season in church when we prepare for Jesus' birth. We'll be starting a start a new sermon series- Christmas Conspiracy. Yes...I'm inviting you to conspire with me this Christmas...in a very fun way. I hope that this series will help us all get more than "the usual" out of Christmas. And it's Gospel Sunday, with a Christmas twist. Be sure to invite folks you know would enjoy it. See you Sunday! ~Pastor Laura

11-29-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:35:13 GMT

"Here, Take My Hand" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt John 1:1-14 (New International Version) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it. 6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b] 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

11-22-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:42:12 GMT

"My Cup Runneth Over" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Psalm 23 (New International Version) A psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

11-22-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:37:38 GMT

"Thanks Living" By Associate Pastor Harold Sassman Luke 17:11-19 (New International Version) Ten Healed of Leprosy 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

11-15-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:59:40 GMT

Moses and the Pamper Pole

Pictured above is what's called the Pamper Pole at Mo Ranch. So named because you need sturdy bowels to attempt it. I have thrown myself off this thing multiple times...I'll tell you how that went on Sunday. And we'll look at Moses' own Pamper Pole experience and how God helped turn an epic failure into a spectacular win. This sermon is the last in our series on failure. You may remember the regrets you wrote at the beginning of our series? Amber has made a video of them, and we'll close this series in a very special way on Sunday. I hope to see you there!

Study Guide

I had a lot of great information on failure left over from these series. This week here are some examples from modern day "theologians" to consider.

1. Wayne Gretzky often remained at practice, long after everyone had left, flipping pucks to a specific spot in the crease, or aiming shot after shot at the crossbar or the goal post. Michael Phelps scrutinized each aspect of his stroke, turns, and start to shave fractions of seconds off his time. What lesson do you find in these athletic greats that applies to your life?

2. Mother Theresa once said, "Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other's faults and failures." How patient are we with the faults and failures of non-believers? With those we know are Christians?

3. I was on the Flag Team in High School. The first time I tried a very tricky "horizontal" throw, I hit myself in the eye socket with the flag's pole. I had a black eye for weeks. Though I flinched often as I tried to learn the throw thereafter, I eventually got it. One of the features of our Winter show included me doing that move. I was extremely proud. What have "black eyes" taught you? How can we succeed after embarrassing failure?

4. Here is a link to a video we've shown in worship about the origin of the hymn It is Well with My Soul. What does Spafford's experience say to you about facing life's sorrows? How did he and his wife use the trials they faced to help others? How did God meet him in his distress?

5. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the 14,000 member United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas, shares the story of his parents- they became pregnant as teens, got married, dropped out of high school and struggled to make ends meet. Ultimately, they divorced. Although he was glad to be born, he wondered if his mother had regretted all she lost. Quite the contrary. Though she acknowledged the struggle, she wrote to tell him how he became a "gift from God" to her. Hamilton concludes by saying "what this reminds me of is a powerful gospel truth: God takes what we think of as 'mistakes'...and redeems them." How has God redeemed mistakes in your history? In your family's?

6. Just for laughs, let's end with advertising failures... When Coca-Cola first shipped to China, they chose characters that when pronounced sounded like "Coca-Cola." The only problem was that when read, the characters meant "Bite the wax tadpole." They later changed to a set of characters that mean "Happiness in the mouth." When Gerber first started selling baby food in Africa, they used identical packaging to that in the USA- the ones with the smiling baby on the label. What they didn't realize is that in Africa, because many people cannot read, companies put pictures of what's inside on the label. Africans were aghast- did the jars contain Anglo babies? And perhaps my favorite- the Chevy Nova, which kept its name when exported to Mexico, where the words no va mean, "it doesn't run."

11-15-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:54:22 GMT

"What United Methodists Believe About the Church" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Matthew 28:16-20 (New International Version) The Great Commission 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

11-08-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:48:14 GMT

"Failure: The Right Lesson" By Associate Pastor Laura Heikes Matthew 16:13-23 (New Living Translation) Peter’s Declaration about Jesus 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[a] 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[c] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[d] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[e] will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Jesus Predicts His Death 21 From then on Jesus[h] began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him[i] for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

11-8-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:42:22 GMT

"What United Methodists Believe about Forgiveness." By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Luke 6:27-37 (New International Version) Love for Enemies 27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Judging Others 37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

11-01-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:27 GMT

When failure means "stop." Sometimes, we're just plain wrong. Correction is something none of us enjoy, but have you examined the alternative? This week we'll talk about how to face our own shortcoming and the next steps after failure. Study Guide We’ll be talking about Jeremiah this week as we look at times when failure means “stop.” The prophets consistently offer this opportunity to God’s people- to hear the logical outcome of their choices and make changes before it’s too late. 1. Read Jeremiah 5:1-3. What kind of a search is this- who is God looking for? How bad are things with God’s people? How could they be “struck” and “crushed” and still pay no attention? What kind of rationalizing have you used to justify sin? 2. Read Jeremiah 5:3 again. Correction is always hard to hear. Think of a time you knew the right way, clearly, but refused to take correction. How do you respond to people who remind you of the truth? How do you take criticism at home or work? Pray today that you’d be open to helpful correction. 3. Read Jeremiah 5:30-31. God holds leaders to even higher standards because of the power they have over others. How are Israel ’s religious leaders doing? In what ways do they reflect the culture around them? Pray for local and national leaders today. Ponder how to be a thermostat (setting the temperature) instead of a thermometer (reflecting the temperature of a room). 4. Israel did not listen to Jeremiah. Babylon invaded and destroyed them. Those who did not die were taken away as captives. But the captives refused to settle in that land, thinking of their stay as temporary. Jeremiah sends them the words of 29:4-14. How does failure change the landscape of our lives? How do we know when to build in this new place and when it’s temporary? How does being forgiven relate to dealing with the consequences of our sin (does forgiveness mean we’re exempt from consequences)? 5. One of the ways we change course is by admitting we’re wrong. Is there someone you need to apologize to? Try to write, call or speak to them this week.

11-1-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:40:38 GMT

"What United Methodists Believe About Family" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Mark 10:1-9 (New International Version) 1Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3"What did Moses command you?" he replied. 4They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." 5"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'[a] 7'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b] 8and the two will become one flesh.'[c] So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

10-25-2009 Contemporary Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:53:54 GMT

What does this donkey have to do with failure? More than you might guess! This week I'll begin a series requested by YOU: Learning from Failure, and the donkey is key. Extra points if you remember a Bible story that involved donkeys and failure! You'll find the study guide below. One day even has a link to a cool video you can use in prayer. The study guide will help you begin thinking about failure as preparation for our time on Sunday. Prison visit opportunity A few weeks ago, as we talked about Finding God at the Hoity Toit, I mentioned God's call to visit unlikely (and uncomfortable) places to be with the people there, people who God loves. This is a chance to put that call into action. Jim Bob Mote is serving on a Kairos Team with the Briscoe prison in Dilley, Texas. On Nov 15, he's invited anyone interested to come with him to the closing ceremony with the inmates at the prison. Nothing is required of those who come, they are simply there to listen and be present. We'll leave after church, eat lunch together, and go to the prison. I will be joining him and would love to have a whole group from our church. If you'd like to come, let me know this Sunday. You'll need to fill out an application by Nov.1. Study Guide Read 1 Cor 1:25-31. How does Paul view weakness? Who were the early Christians in terms of status, standing, or even character before faith in Christ? Why might God choose those that others would overlook to accomplish his purposes? What do weak people have to offer God that the strong do not? Watch this video, which contains the story behind the hymn, It is Well With My Soul. What sorrows have shaken your life? What sorrows has God seen you through? Pray your own version of this hymn, telling God why it is well with your soul. Ezekiel 15-16 reads "I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak..." God is passionate about the lost and broken. Pray specifically for the lost and broken souls you know, that they might be found and made whole. The beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10) include at least five types of people we might describe as failures. The poor in spirit (failed to be happy), those who mourn (facing the ultimate failure- death), the meek (isn’t it better to be strong and confident?), those who are hungry (for something they don’t have), and the persecuted. How would society write this list differently than Jesus? Find yourself on this list and remember the blessing Jesus promises.

10-25-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:53:29 GMT

PASTOR KEITH IS BACK! "What United Methodists Believe about the Holy Spirit" By Senior Pastor Keith Wyatt Acts 1:6-8 6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 2:1-4 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

10-18-2009 Traditional Service

FirstUMC New Braunfels Texas — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:39:46 GMT

"It's a Matter of Relationship" By Pastor Joseph Ray Romans 12:9-21 (New International Version) Love 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[b]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[c] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.