Sermons by Rev. Isiah Dennis

It’s Time to Rise Up

Psalm 130 calls us to reflect on the depths of our souls and the steadfast love of our Creator. In this time of transition, how does waiting on the Lord deepen our faith journey and inspire hope? We will explore the book of Psalms at the base camp of our church community, near and far. Join us as we honor Pastor Isiah’s two years of ministry at Prospect Park UMC. We will explore spiritual practices, observe the Sabbath, learn sacred…

Hold On

We all face storms in our lives, and in the midst of them, we seek peace. How can we get the peace we long for by hearing Jesus say, “Quiet, Be Still?”  We will explore the Gospel of Mark at the base camp of our church community, near and far.  We will explore spiritual practices, observe the Sabbath, learn sacred stories, sing, pray, reflect, refuel, and revive our sense of reverence! SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:35-41 (CEB) 35 Later that day, when evening…

Are You Sure?

The saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for.”  The elders of Israel didn’t heed that saying because they went to the prophet Samuel demanding a king. The reason they wanted a king was to be like everyone else. Samuel went to God, and God told Samuel to give them what they wanted. Even after Samuel warned them about what the king would do, they still insisted on having one. How is this story relevant to us today? SCRIPTURE: 1…

Revive Us Again

We are currently in the post-Pentecost season, which is known as “Ordinary Time”. This is the longest season of the Christian Liturgical year. We find ourselves here in the book of Isaiah, and in this passage, we see Isaiah accepting the call to become a prophet. We can focus on the call, but what fascinates me is Isaiah’s response when he was in the presence of God. How will we respond when we are in God’s presence? How will we…

A Legacy of Faith

Mother’s Day is when we honor all the mother figures in our lives. When we look at the letter of 2 Timothy, we see the Apostle Paul mentioning two of Timothy’s family members: his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. I wonder what can we learn from their story? We will explore the letter of 2 Timothy at the base camp of our church community, near and far. We will explore spiritual practices, keep the gift of the Sabbath, learn…

Who Are You Following?

According to Dictionary.com, the term “pure” refers to being untainted by evil, innocent, and ceremonially clean. It also means being free from guilt. While Jesus Christ is the only person known to be pure, as followers of Christ, what does it mean for us to strive for purity? How does it reflect in our daily lives? SCRIPTURE: 1 John 3:1-7 (NLT) 3 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we…

Be Honest

We have just celebrated the resurrection, but what comes next? It’s time for us to take a step back and truly understand what it means to follow Christ. We need to take the time to learn what it means that God is love and to reflect on ourselves. SCRIPTURE: 1 John 1:1-2:2 1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,[a] whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our…

Go and Tell It

“He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!” After Jesus was crucified, many people thought this was the end, but his resurrection proved that death couldn’t hold him down. We all know that Jesus has risen, but how can we experience the hope, power, and new life that his resurrection brings? In the base camp of our church community, near and far, we will wrap up our time in the Gospel of Mark. We will explore spiritual practices, keep the gift…

You Matter

“Holy Week,” aka “Passion Week,” is upon us! We come into this week shouting, “Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”. The shouts of Hosanna go to “Crucify Him” and then to “He is Risen!” As we enter this Holy Week, we hear the story of a woman who took her alabaster box and anointed Jesus’ body.  What can we take from her story as we go into this week? SCRIPTURE: Mark 14:3-9 (NLT)…

Get Ready

In Mark 13, Jesus explained to the disciples the signs of the end of time and the destruction of the temple. From the Left Behind series to movies about the apocalypse, people have been wondering when the end times will happen. How does this connect to Lent? What can we learn from this passage? In the base camp of our church community, near and far, we will continue our series on the Gospel of Mark. We will explore spiritual practices,…