Claim OwnershipWesley Church | Springfield, MO
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Wesley is a Community of Faith that accepts every person who walks through our doors just as they are. We long to be a wider family of faith, going beyond our building to be in ministry outside our doors. We live out our faithfulness to this community through participation in our four pathways of discipleship:
WORSHIP, LEARN, SERVE, and CELEBRATE.
WORSHIP, LEARN, SERVE, and CELEBRATE.
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The season of Advent invites us to prepare our hearts for Christ's coming, but sometimes the joy of Christmas can feel threatening when we're carrying grief, stress, or disappointment. King Herod's fearful response to the newborn King contrasts sharply with the Magi's joyful worship, showing us two different ways to respond to Jesus' arrival. While Herod felt threatened because accepting Jesus as King meant he couldn't be his own king, the Magi approached with wonder and surrendered their gifts. This Advent, we can choose to respond like the Magi - with curiosity, trust, and joy rather than fear and resistance. When we truly embrace Jesus as our King, we're not losing control but gaining the greatest gift of all.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Many people fear Christmas not because of commercialization or early decorations, but because of what the nativity story truly represents. Like King Herod, they're threatened by the idea of surrendering control to Jesus as King. The Christmas story challenges everyone to make a choice: either worship Jesus as Lord or reject him entirely - there's no middle ground. However, those who fear Christmas misunderstand Jesus's purpose. He didn't come to take away freedom but to offer love, grace, and salvation. Christians should respond to modern-day Grinches with compassion and understanding, recognizing they're beloved children of God who simply haven't yet grasped the true gift of Christmas.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
True thankfulness goes beyond gratitude journals and positive attitudes—it moves us to action. God gives us gifts not for our own benefit alone, but to serve others and build His kingdom. We are stewards, not owners, of our abilities and resources. Every gift matters, regardless of size, as demonstrated by the widow's offering in Luke 21. Don't let comparison discourage you; your unique gifts are specifically designed to work alongside others in the body of Christ. Start using what you have right now, trusting that God provides for those who are faithful with their gifts.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
True gratitude isn't just a holiday feeling—it's a lifestyle choice that transforms our perspective and well-being. Research shows that people who practice daily gratitude experience better physical health, stronger relationships, and greater joy. The apostle Paul demonstrated this when he chose to rejoice while imprisoned, proving that our joy depends on our attitude, not our circumstances. God wants us to live gratefully not for His benefit, but for ours, because gratitude literally rewires our brains for happiness and strengthens our connections with others.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Gratitude isn't just a feeling—it's a posture that shapes how we see the world. Following Jesus' example, we can maintain thankfulness even in difficult circumstances by recognizing God's constant presence rather than waiting for perfect conditions. The Apostle Paul instructed believers to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances—not for everything that happens, but recognizing that God remains with us through everything. This posture of gratitude becomes a defiant declaration that hardship doesn't get the final word in our lives.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
All Saints Day reminds us that death doesn't have the final word in our story. When Jesus told his troubled disciples not to be afraid, he wasn't asking them to ignore their pain but to trust in something greater than their circumstances. His promise of many rooms in his Father's house speaks to our deep need for belonging and permanence. Even in our darkest moments of grief, we are never truly alone because Jesus lives, and because he lives, we will live too. This sacred day calls us to remember the saints who have gone before us while recognizing our own calling to be faithful witnesses of God's love to others. Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
All Saints Day celebrates our eternal connection to the vast family of faith spanning across time and eternity. A saint is simply someone who loves God with all their heart and loves others as Christ loves us. This includes not just famous church figures, but every faithful believer who has gone before us—our parents, friends, and mentors who showed us what it means to walk in God's light. When we remember the saints, we're reminded that we're part of something much larger than ourselves, connected to a great cloud of witnesses. Through Jesus Christ's victory over death, we're united with saints from throughout history and around the world today. We're called to live as saints right now, running our race with endurance while surrounded by this eternal family of faith.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Halloween's true origins trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was transformed by early Christians into All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints Day. Rather than being anti-Christian, Halloween was actually created by the church to honor the saints who have gone before us. The original Celtic tradition involved communities gathering around fires to remember loved ones who had died, taking home embers to light their homes through winter. This beautiful practice of remembrance aligns perfectly with the biblical concept of being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who encourage us in our faith journey. Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Halloween is actually a Christian festival called All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day. While it has Celtic origins from Samhain, early missionaries transformed this pagan celebration into a Christian holiday, just as they did with Christmas and Easter. The real issue isn't Halloween's history, but the church's defensive posture toward darkness. Jesus declared that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, meaning we're called to advance against darkness, not hide from it. The ancient Celtic tradition of creating a massive bonfire to banish darkness beautifully illustrates this truth. Christians shouldn't fear Halloween or any darkness because overwhelming victory is already ours through Christ.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
The early Christian church demonstrated that true generosity goes far beyond financial giving—it's a transformative way of life. After Pentecost, believers created authentic community (koinonia) by sharing resources, forming deep connections, and ensuring no one faced hardship alone. Their generosity wasn't driven by obligation but flowed naturally from their spiritual transformation. This model challenges us to move beyond transactional giving to a lifestyle where we carry each other's burdens, erase dividing lines, and create communities where everyone matters and no one is left behind.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
The early Church in Acts 2 devoted themselves to five essential practices: worship, prayer, teaching, communion, and giving. While we've traditionally recognized the first four as spiritual practices, we've mistakenly categorized giving as merely financial. In reality, giving is just as spiritual as the others—it's a theological statement about who we believe God is. Jesus taught that following Him requires sacrifice and taking up our cross daily. Christianity isn't a low-demand, high-reward faith that costs nothing; it's about bringing heaven to earth through our generosity and sacrifice. Like King David who refused to offer God something that cost him nothing, our giving reflects our understanding of discipleship.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Hello and welcome to Wesley Church's podcast of *That's a Good Question* where we invite and encourage questions that you have wanted to ask the church.Questions? Email us at PODCAST@WESLEYMETHODIST.COMWesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
Jesus consistently demonstrated that love was His first move, even when it wasn't deserved or carried risk. In John 8, when religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery to trap Him, Jesus created space by writing on the ground rather than reacting immediately. His profound response - that only those without sin should cast stones - revealed that none were worthy to condemn. Jesus didn't define the woman by her sin but offered forgiveness and a new beginning. This radical approach challenges us to love first in every situation, creating space for thoughtful response rather than emotional reaction.Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
In John 8:3-11, Jesus faces a trap when religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery before him, presenting only two options: condemn her to death or disregard the law. Instead of choosing either extreme, Jesus demonstrates a third way by writing in the sand and challenging the accusers to examine their own hearts. His response diffuses the situation and offers the woman grace before accountability. This pattern reflects Jesus' broader mission - creating a third option beyond perfect obedience or death by taking our sins upon himself. As followers of Jesus, we're called to move beyond binary thinking, replacing judgment with compassion and extending grace to others just as we've received it. Wesley United Methodist Church - Springfield, MO www.wesleymethodist.com(CCLI streaming license 2009194)
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