From The Pulpit of DUMC

Latest Episodes:

#395: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | September 20, 2026 Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Remember, but don’t go back.
Remembering God’s faithfulness gives us strength for what’s ahead. We can honor the past without becoming stuck there.

Be still and trust God.
Fear can make us want to retreat, complain, or become paralyzed. Sometimes the faithful response is to pause, pray, and trust that God is still at work.

Then take the next step.
Being still doesn’t mean staying still forever. God tells the Israelites to move forward, even before they know exactly how the way ahead will open.

Trust God with what you can’t see yet.
The Israelites moved before the sea was parted. Faith means moving forward with courage, trusting that the God who has been faithful before will continue to lead us.

#394: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | September 13, 2026 Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Fear can shape our choices.
Pharaoh allowed fear to become oppression. We are called to recognize when fear begins driving our own decisions.

Courage chooses a different way.
Shiphrah and Puah chose life over death, unity over division, and courage over fear.

Faithfulness may require resistance.
Following God will not always mean following the crowd, the culture, or even what feels safest for us. Sometimes faith calls us to courageously resist what is wrong.

Small acts of courage can lead to something bigger.
Before Moses and before the Exodus, two midwives made a courageous choice. Their faithfulness helped begin a much larger story of liberation.

This Week's Takeaway

When fear tells us to protect ourselves, faith calls us to courage. Choose God's way, even when it requires resistance.

#393: Rev. Meredith Hinton | September 6, 2026 Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Sermon Take-Home Notes

God meets us in unfinished places. We do not have to have everything figured out before God meets us.
Grace does not wait for perfect people. God met Jacob while he was still growing, changing, and dealing with the consequences of his choices.
God is present in the ordinary. A conversation, an act of kindness, laughter, forgiveness, or an unexpected moment can become holy ground.
God’s presence does not depend on our awareness. Even when we cannot see or understand what God is doing, God is still present.
Pay attention to the life in front of you. Instead of waiting for life to settle down, look for where God may already be at work today.

Weekly Takeaway

You don’t have to get everything figured out before God meets you. God is already present. Ask for the eyes to notice.

#392: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | August 31, 2026 Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Sermon Take-Home Notes

Grace isn't earned.
God's love isn't a reward for good behavior.

Stop keeping score.
Comparing our goodness to someone else's failures only separates us from one another.

Watch for anger and resentment.
Being upset when someone else receives grace may reveal something in our own hearts.

God comes looking for both sons.
Whether our sin is obvious or hidden behind good behavior, God's grace meets us where we are.

Choose relationship over transaction.
We aren't God's employees trying to earn a reward. We are God's beloved children.

Weekly Takeaway

Stop keeping score. God's grace isn't something we earn. It's something we receive and extend to others.

#391: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | August 23, 2026 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Grace comes first.
Jesus approaches the woman with grace before confronting her sin.

No one is beyond God's reach.
Our past does not disqualify us from God's love, forgiveness, or grace.

Jesus crosses boundaries to reach people.
The divisions we create do not limit whom Jesus welcomes.

Grace leads to new life.
Jesus offers living water, a new beginning rooted in relationship with God.

Grace is meant to be shared.
The woman at the well becomes a messenger, sharing what Jesus has done with her community.

Bottom Line | Weekly Takeaway

No one is beyond the grace of God. Receive it, live it, and share it.

#390: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | August 16, 2026 Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Sermon Take-Home Notes

Don't go alone. We were created to follow Jesus together.
Don't leave anyone behind. Look around and notice who is missing, lonely, or disconnected.
Hold on to hope. Our hope is grounded in God's faithfulness, not our circumstances.
Provoke each other toward good. Encourage, challenge, and spur one another toward love and action.
Keep gathering. Worship and Christian community shape who we are and help us keep going.
Everybody has a purpose. The church needs everyone's gifts, participation, and presence.

Bottom Line / Weekly Takeaway

Hold on to hope, show up for one another, and leave nobody behind. Everybody all in.

#389: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | August 9, 2026 Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

God is present in the chaos.
When life shakes around us, God has not left us.

Bring your whole self to God.
Faith does not require pretending. God can handle our questions, fears, anger, and joy.

Look for God along the road.
God often shows up through ordinary people who love, help, listen, and stay.

Be still enough to notice.
In the noise and uncertainty of life, make room to hear God’s voice and recognize God’s presence.

We do not travel alone.
When we struggle to see or trust God, the church can help carry our faith for us.

Bottom Line

When the road is uncertain and fear is real, God still shows up. Be still, pay attention, and remember: you do not travel alone.

#388: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | August 2, 2026 Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Loving your neighbor is an action, not just a feeling.
Compassion often begins where comfort ends.
Don't let busyness keep you from seeing someone's need.
Mercy reflects the heart of Jesus.
The question isn't "Who is my neighbor?" but "How can I be a neighbor?"

Bottom Line / Weekly Takeaway

This week, look for one opportunity to stop, show compassion, and love someone the way Jesus loves you. Go and do likewise.

#387: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | July 26, 2026 Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Sermon Take Home Notes

Worship comes before our mission.
Small, faithful steps lead to lasting transformation.
The empty tomb gives us hope for every challenge we face.
Our habits shape our faith and prepare us for God's work.
We are called to share the hope of Jesus with others.
Your next faithful step matters.

Weekly Bottom Line

The path to changing the world begins with worship and one faithful step at a time.

#386: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley | July 12, 2026 Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Take Home Notes

Jesus sends ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
We do not go alone. Christ goes before us and with us.
The first gift we offer others is peace.
Hospitality and welcome are part of sharing the Gospel.
God can use simple acts of kindness to prepare the way for Christ.

Weekly Takeaway

This week, ask yourself: "How can I bring the peace of Christ into the places and people I encounter?"

Short Closing Line

Carry peace. Offer welcome. Make room for Christ to be known.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

This Week's Takeaway

Sermon Take-Home Notes

Weekly Takeaway

Sermon Take-Home Notes

Weekly Takeaway

Bottom Line | Weekly Takeaway

Sermon Take-Home Notes

Bottom Line / Weekly Takeaway

Bottom Line

Bottom Line / Weekly Takeaway

Sermon Take Home Notes

Weekly Bottom Line

Take Home Notes

Weekly Takeaway

Short Closing Line

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected