Pastor Efraín Sermons, www.yuma1st.org
579 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★ - 3 ratingsHonest, down-to-earth messages that help us find meaning for our daily lives!
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Episodes
Hope Born Out of Tragedy
April 24, 2023 17:00 - 11 minutes - 6.8 MBWhen we encounter difficult life situations, it’s natural and necessary to grieve our losses. We need time to process those events that result in changing circumstances or lost relationships. Despite an expectation that everything will be fine in the end, the moment of pain cannot be ignored, and having someone to sit with us and listen can be invaluable. This is the kind of care Jesus offered a pair of disciples who were returning to Emmaus after witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus. They h...
From the Day You Were Born
April 17, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutes - 1.73 MBSpecial music for April 16, 2023 by the chancel choir.
Living with Mystery
April 17, 2023 17:00 - 10 minutes - 5.8 MBAs much as we desire to know how everything works in life, there are limitations to what we understand. How does a plant create food from sunlight, or how do the roughly 100 billion neurons in the brain create the sense of consciousness? Some of us are more adept at figuring these things out, but there are many mysteries nobody completely understands. Despite our limited knowledge photosynthesis and neuroscience, we can rely on plants for food and trust our minds to guide us through life. T...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 16, 2023
April 17, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutes - 1.71 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, April 16, 2023 by Avery West.
He is Alive
April 10, 2023 18:00 - 5 minutes - 3.3 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir for April 9, 2023.
Living With Christ
April 10, 2023 18:00 - 10 minutes - 5.72 MBMessage for April 9, 2023 by Rev. Mike Wilkerson.
Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 9, 2023
April 10, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.22 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, April 9, 2023, by Ed Roberts.
Prayers of the People for Sunday, April 2, 2023
April 03, 2023 16:00 - 3 minutes - 1.82 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, April 2, 2023 by Pastor Mike.
Living With Passion
March 27, 2023 18:00 - 15 minutes - 8.79 MBFacing the daily challenges of life can be tiring. Whether it’s the tedious aspects of a job, the monotonous practices required for a hobby or sport, or even the difficult disciplines practiced for Lent, we tend to run out of steam eventually. Yet, when inspired by the parts of our work and play that feed our passions, we suddenly gain new strength and stamina. In this fifth Sunday of Lent, we will reflect on how God renews our lives. From the writings of the prophet Ezekiel we read about G...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, March 26, 2023
March 27, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.18 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, March 26, 2023 by Fred Hancewicz.
Seeing the Full Picture
March 20, 2023 20:00 - 14 minutes - 7.15 MBIt’s amazing how well our brain can filter all the stimuli it receives from our senses, allowing us to focus on just a few things at a time. For example, someone returning to work from a lunch break at a sidewalk café may be listening to a friend walking with them, watch for cars as they cross the street, feel a breeze as they come to the corner, smell food from the café they just visited, and taste the tea they had taken with them in a to-go cup while concentrating on the conversation with...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, March 19, 2023
March 20, 2023 20:00 - 2 minutes - 1.4 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, March 19, 2023 by Rev. Katie Fuchs.
Prayers of the People for Sunday, March 12, 2023
March 13, 2023 16:00 - 8 minutes - 3.18 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, March 12, 2023 by Brandon Coz.
Seeking Fulfillment
March 13, 2023 16:00 - 14 minutes - 7.33 MBI think it’s safe to say that gratification is a common goal in life for all of us. Each one of us seek some form of gratification, but we do it in different ways: through work, entertainment, hobbies, or even simply resting. Sometimes it’s superficial and temporary; other times it affects us deeply for a lifetime. The search for gratification motivates our behavior and guides many of our decisions. In this third Sunday of Lent, we will reflect on a discussion between Jesus and a Samaritan ...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, March 5, 2023
March 06, 2023 20:00 - 3 minutes - 1.8 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, March 5, 2023 by Allison Essinger.
The Decision of No Decision
March 06, 2023 20:00 - 18 minutes - 9.84 MBHave you ever been so troubled by a decision that you lose sleep turning the options over and over in your mind? Likewise, have you ever been presented with a decision to be made and were able to come to your decision right away? In our Scripture readings this week, we take a look at Abram's response to God when he told him to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house to go to a place that God would show him. And we also look at the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus ab...
Living With Temptations
February 27, 2023 16:00 - 15 minutes - 7.97 MBThis week, we transition to the liturgical season of Lent. This has traditionally been a period of reflection – about the ways we live out our lives, our relationships with God and each other, and what Christ has made available to us through his crucifixion and resurrection. The season of Lent encourages us to listen to the call of the Spirit and discern how we can grow closer in those relationships. This week, we will reflect on temptation. This is an issue all of humanity has had to deal ...
Prayers of the People for Sunday. February 26, 2023
February 27, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.24 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday. February 26, 2023 by Jim Essinger.
Glimpses of the Kin-dom
February 20, 2023 19:00 - 11 minutes - 5.7 MBTransfiguration Sunday, like Reign of Christ or Christ the King Sunday, is about the identity of the one we follow. Jesus the Christ is revealed in glory on the mount of transfiguration. Like the disciples who were privileged to be with him in that moment, we often miss the significance or the opportunity to praise in our struggle to understand. This day is not about knowledge; it is about faith. It is a day for creeds or affirmations of faith. Let us rise to our feet and declare our allegia...
Centering on Trust
February 13, 2023 17:00 - 19 minutes - 10.3 MBIt's true that camp experiences are filled with joy and laughter, and much of that is based on a foundation of trust. In fact, trust is at the core of building community, establishing connections, and growing relationships. When we grow the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we find it easier to center our communities on trust. This Sunday we'll discover how the Holy Spirit shows up at Mingus through intentionally living into fruits and how trust allows faith to develop and campers and...
Choosing Our Apps Wisely
February 05, 2023 22:00 - 22 minutes - 13.2 MBWe live in a world where apps and technology play an increasingly large role in our lives. Many of us keep our smart phones and tablets by our side, rushing to check them every time a new notification beeps. Although apps have plenty of useful applications and can even help us stay connected to others, they can also become a major distraction if we spend too much time fixated on them. We must choose wisely what apps we use and keep a watchful eye over our behavior and attitude towards tech-r...
The Wisdom of Following Christ
January 30, 2023 23:00 - 14 minutes - 8 MBSometimes it’s difficult to understand why people do what they do. Without an understanding of inward motivations, outward actions sometimes just don’t make sense. In the book The Big Short by Michael Lewis, the thought process of investors who predicted the collapse of the housing market in the 2000’s is explained. During the buildup to the financial crisis, big banks thought these investors were foolish for betting against the market, but when the housing bubble burst, those investors reap...
The Least of These
January 30, 2023 23:00 - 3 minutes - 1.99 MBSpecial music for January 29, 2023 by the chancel choir.
Being of the Same Mind
January 23, 2023 18:00 - 13 minutes - 7.1 MBThere are a wide variety of opinions on just about every subject you can think of: politics, economics, art, religion, … Each person approaches these subjects from a different point of view based on their own experiences and perspectives. Sometimes, the result is positive; ideas are refined, and new solutions arise. However, differences in these subjects can also lead to conflict and gridlock. This week, we will consider an appeal for unity from the Apostle Paul to the church houses in Cori...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, January 22, 2023
January 23, 2023 18:00 - 7 minutes - 3.82 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, January 22, 2023 by Brandon Coz.
We Are the Body of Christ
January 23, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.3 MBSpecial music for January 22, 2023by the chancel choir.
Come and See
January 15, 2023 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.5 MBOften when asked what we are looking for, we are clearly searching for something in particular--likely an object we have misplaced--and we give a quick and concrete answer. "I'm looking for my glasses," or "I can't find my keys!" In this week's scripture passage, Jesus asks this question of two men who have begun to follow him, "what are you looking for?" and the men reply with a question of their own. Sometimes we know what we are looking for, and sometimes it is not so clear, and we need ...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, January 8, 2023
January 09, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.42 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, January 8, 2023 by Avery West.
Stepping Up to Our Challenges
January 09, 2023 18:00 - 12 minutes - 6.45 MBWe often sell ourselves short, emphasizing our weaknesses rather than our strengths. When confronted by significant challenges, whether they’re our own or someone else’s, we sometimes feel inadequate to meet those challenges and defer to other “more capable” people to deal with them for us. This can be on a small scale, such as confronting an unfair HOA rule, or a much larger scale, such as global warming. Regardless of the scope, significant effort is sometimes needed by others to convince ...
Agnus Dei with "How Great Thou Art"
January 09, 2023 18:00 - 4 minutes - 2.06 MBSpecial music by Brandon Coz.
The Journey to Christ
January 03, 2023 20:00 - 3 minutes - 1.7 MBThis Sunday, we celebrate Epiphany, a celebration of the revelation of the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ. Although it’s a seasonal celebration for the entire church, it’s also a time to reflect on our personal revelation of the nature of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to us as a Jewish child in the first century, but he has been revealed as the Son of God to so many people in various cultures around the world for centuries. Each revelation is a story to be told and a gift to be celebrated. ...
Wise Men Still Seek Him
January 03, 2023 20:00 - 3 minutes - 1.7 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir.
Prayers of the People for Sunday, December 25, 2022
December 27, 2022 18:00 - 4 minutes - 1.98 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, December 25, 2022 by Pastor Jon Flint.
Come On, Ring Those Bells
December 27, 2022 18:00 - 3 minutes - 1.68 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir.
The Gift of Light
December 27, 2022 18:00 - 7 minutes - 4.2 MBIsn’t it wonderful that Christmas falls on a Sunday this year? After rising early on Christmas morning to exchange gifts and maybe have a nice breakfast, we get to come together with friends and our church family to sing and celebrate the ultimate gift offered by God to humanity – the gift of the Christ child. We get to be vividly reminded of the reason for this season on the day of celebration that is all too often marked more by its economic rather than its spiritual impact on our lives. ...
The Strength of Love
December 19, 2022 20:00 - 14 minutes - 7.66 MBIn this fourth week of advent our theme is “love.” It’s so appropriate to conclude the advent season with a focus on love since love could easily be considered the theme of the entire Bible. As the passage from 1 John 4:7-8 so eloquently puts it, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Love is foundational to experiencing Christ and sharing the message of Christ to...
Prayers of the People for Sunday, December 18, 2022
December 19, 2022 20:00 - 1 minute - 1.05 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, December 18, 2022 by Susan Gleason.
Prayers of the People for Sunday, December 11, 2022
December 12, 2022 18:00 - 3 minutes - 1.82 MBPrayers of the People for Sunday, December 11, 2022 by Avery West.
Do Your Hear What I Hear?
December 12, 2022 18:00 - 3 minutes - 1.58 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir.
The Search for Peace
December 05, 2022 19:00 - 12 minutes - 6.86 MBThe theme for our second week of Advent is peace. Interestingly, this was supposedly the goal of the Roman empire in the first century, but their method of achieving peace was through intimidation. The idea was to force people to behave the way the Roman authorities wanted them to by threatening them with violence if they refused to comply. This is still a tactic used to various degrees throughout the world today. Jesus also sought to bring peace to the world, but he approached the idea dif...
O Come, All Ye Faithful
November 28, 2022 19:00 - 4 minutes - 2.44 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir.
A Gift of Hope
November 28, 2022 19:00 - 15 minutes - 8.6 MBAdvent has arrived! This is a season of anticipation when excitement builds as we look forward to the coming Christ child. Yes, Jesus was born over two thousand years ago, but we relive the celebration of his birth with eager anticipation each year. We recognize the event that happened historically, yet also recognize that Christ still comes to us continually in Word and Spirit today. This first Sunday of Advent, our focus is on hope. Throughout the ages, hope has served to strengthen us in...
A Thanksgiving Prayer
November 20, 2022 21:00 - 3 minutes - 2.15 MBSpecial music by the chancel choir.
Living Under the Reign of Christ
November 20, 2022 21:00 - 12 minutes - 7.62 MBWe have much to celebrate this weekend. This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the Christian liturgical calendar, Christ the King Sunday. And it’s also the day we will baptize two of our beloved children, Ander and Jase (one day following their formal adoption by our Director of Children’s Ministries, Ms. Samantha Mayrant). These celebrations give us the opportunity to reflect on what it means to call ourselves “Christian.” Christians have a specific understanding of Jesus and what it mea...
We Worship You
November 14, 2022 18:00 - 3 minutes - 2.36 MBSpecial music for November 13, 2022 by the chancel choir.
Searching for Whatever Comes Next
November 07, 2022 18:00 - 8 minutes - 4.79 MBThis weekend we celebrate All Saints Day. This is a time when we remember the saints who have made a lasting impact on our lives and have gone before us to be with Christ. Although we may not completely understand what happens after death, we have confidence in the promise Jesus made that we will be together with him and all the saints when our time comes to leave this earthly life. The nature of that realm has always been a mystery, but our faith in the resurrection of Jesus serves as a fou...
Being the Church
October 31, 2022 18:00 - 13 minutes - 7.88 MBWhile preparing for last week’s charge conference, I was struck by the wonderful work that had been accomplished in the past year and the exciting opportunities coming up in the year ahead. For those who are not as familiar with the inner workings of the United Methodist Church, the charge conference is a local church meeting held each year where the church reviews its current status and considers changes for the following year. The effort put forth by people in the church over the last year...