From The Pulpit of DUMC

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**From The Pulpit of DUMC**

Sermons and Scripture delivered from the Pulpit of Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC

Latest Episodes:

#335: Rev. David Hockett // June 15, 2025 Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

“Devoted: Living a Long Obedience Together”
Part of our series on the Book of Acts

Scripture Focus: Acts 2:42–47

🕊️ 1. The Church Is a People, Not a Place

The early Christians didn’t just go to church—they were the church. Church is not primarily a building or institution but a community of people devoted to Christ and to one another.

🤝 2. Devotion Means Persistence

The Greek word for “devoted” implies steadfastness, persistence, and long obedience. Faith is not a quick fix or a fleeting feeling—it’s a commitment to showing up, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable.

🙏 3. Four Practices of a Devoted Church

Acts 2 shows us how the early church lived out their devotion:

Teaching – Learning and growing in the faith

Fellowship (Koinonia) – Life together that crosses boundaries

Breaking of Bread – Worship and communion

Prayer – Staying grounded in God’s presence

💡 4. Faith is Incarnational

Christianity is a lived, embodied faith. We grow in Christ together, not alone. Our calling is to live it out in real time, with real people—in all the beauty and mess of community.

🪑 5. There’s a Seat at the Table for Everyone

The invitation is open to all: whether you’re new, returning, wrestling with church, or walking faithfully for years—you belong. If we run out of chairs, we’ll find another one.

⚾ 6. Keep Stepping Up to the Plate

Like a batter in a slump, the way forward is to keep showing up. Growth in faith comes not through instant results, but through steady, persistent devotion to Christ and community.

Reflection Question for the Week:
What’s one way you can devote yourself more fully to life with Christ and the community of faith this week?

#334: Rev. David Hockett // June 8, 2025 Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

🕊️ Pentecost Sunday – Take Home Notes
"Waiting on the Wind: Becoming a Pentecost People"
Rev. David Hockett – Davidson UMC

1. Before Anything Else, They Waited
The disciples didn’t act, teach, or preach until they waited on the Spirit. Pentecost reminds us that the Church is not fueled by human effort but by divine power. Waiting is not passive—it is faithful preparation.

2. The Church is Spirit-Breathed
Unlike any other institution, the Church exists and thrives only through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our work is not about what we can do for God, but what God can do through us.

3. The Spirit Transcends Time, Language, and Culture
At Pentecost, people from all nations and histories heard the gospel in their own languages. God's Spirit breaks down every barrier to form one Church with one mission: love.

4. The Spirit Empowers Us to Live Like Jesus
Being Spirit-filled means more than emotion or experience—it means embodying Christ’s radical love, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy in everyday life.

5. God’s Imagination is Unleashed Through the Church
Pentecost is a glimpse into what God dreams the world could be. When we say “yes” to the Spirit, we become participants in that divine dream—bringing hope, justice, and peace to a hurting world.

6. Surrender is the Starting Point of Freedom
We receive the Spirit not by earning it, but by letting go—of control, fear, ego—and receiving grace as a gift. In surrender, we find our truest selves.

7. The World Needs a Spirit-Filled Church
In a weary and divided world, the Church is called to be a cooling breeze—a community of love and possibility empowered by the Spirit. But it only happens when we wait on God.

Reflection Questions for the Week:

When was the last time I truly waited on God before making a decision?

What might I need to let go of to be more open to the Spirit’s movement?

How can I embody God’s dream in my relationships, my work, and my community?

Closing Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts. Kindle in us the fire of your love, that we may be the body of Christ in the world, living signs of your hope, your power, and your imagination. Amen.

#333: Rev. Jim Humphries // May 25, 2025 Sermon Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

📝 Take-Home Notes: The Fifth Gospel

Scripture Focus: Acts 1:1–11
Preacher: Rev. Jim
Date: Ascension Sunday

1. Don’t Avoid the Uncomfortable
Rev. Jim admitted he’s often avoided preaching about the Ascension because it feels hard to imagine. But faith sometimes invites us to wrestle with mystery—not to avoid it.

2. The Point Isn’t How Jesus Ascended—It’s Why
Acts 1 shows Jesus’ ascension not just as an end, but a beginning. Jesus leaves so the Holy Spirit can come—and we can be empowered to continue his work.

3. The Book of Acts = The Fifth Gospel
Acts is often called “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit.” It tells how everyday people, led by the Spirit, became Christ’s body in the world. That story is still being written—by us.

4. The Spirit Empowers Us to Be the Church
Jesus promises: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” That power equips us to teach, heal, forgive, love, and unite—just as he did.

5. Stop Staring—Start Acting
When the disciples stared into the sky, angels asked, “Why are you looking up?” It was a reminder: don’t wait around. You are now the presence of Christ on earth. Get to work.

Reflect This Week:
In what ways can I be Christ’s presence in my community—through my words, my actions, and my love?

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, fill me with your power so that I may be your witness in this world. Help me to teach, to heal, to love, and to live as the body of Christ. Amen.

#332: Rev. Dr. Brad Hinton // May 25, 2025 Sermon May 29, 2025

Show notes

Scripture: Psalm 67

Key Themes & Takeaways:

Pause and Reflect: Just as Brad had to pause mid-hike, we are invited to stop and reflect, especially during times of transition.

God’s Presence: Like Wesley's words, “Best of all, God is with us.” God's grace remains with us in every season.

Blessing and Mission: Psalm 67 is both a blessing and a call—to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering ourselves for others.

Unity and Forgiveness: Mistakes will happen. Be quick to forgive, slow to blame, and always aim to build one another up.

Praise with Joy: Let worship be full of joy and authenticity. May this church be a place where people encounter God and are renewed.

Live the Vows: Continue your discipleship through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

Support One Another: Speak to God about one another before speaking to others. Encourage your leaders.

Brad’s Prayer for Us: That we would be people of rest, praise, joy, and service—filled with the Spirit and led by grace.

Parting Words:

Do no harm. Do good. Fall in love with God.
Carry this simple wisdom into your life as disciples of Christ.

#331: Rev. Jim Humphries // May 18, 2025 Sermon May 19, 2025

Show notes

📝 Take-Home Notes: Profanity in the Church

Scripture Focus: Acts 11:1–18
Preacher: Rev. Jim

📌 Key Themes:

Identity through Food: What we eat often marks who we are—culturally, religiously, and socially. This was especially true in biblical times.

Peter’s Vision: God challenges Peter’s understanding of “clean” and “unclean” through a vision filled with forbidden foods, symbolizing people previously excluded from God’s covenant.

Breaking Barriers: Peter sees the Holy Spirit fall on Cornelius—a Gentile—and realizes God’s love extends beyond boundaries, rules, and traditions.

Modern Application: We still draw lines between “us” and “them”—by race, religion, nationality, politics, gender, and sexuality. But God’s grace doesn’t play favorites.

🙏 Reflection Questions:

Where in your life do you see boundaries that separate “insiders” from “outsiders”?

Have you ever used your beliefs to justify exclusion—intentionally or unintentionally?

How might God be asking you to expand your view of who belongs in His kingdom?

💬 Quotes to Remember:

“What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” — Acts 11:9

“You can safely assume you’ve made God in your own image when it turns out He hates all the same people you do.” — Anne Lamott

“Who are we to hinder God?” — Acts 11:17

✨ A Final Word:

God’s sheet is wide. His grace is vast. His love includes everyone.
Let’s stop shrinking God down to our own image.
Let’s start living into the wideness of His mercy.

#330: Rev. David Hockett // May 11, 2025 Sermon May 12, 2025

Show notes

Sermon Take-Home Notes

“Re-Rigging the Boat: Love in Action After Easter”
John 21:1–19 | Rev. David Hockett | May 11, 2024

1. Faith is more than belief—it’s a call to action.
Jesus doesn’t just ask Peter if he loves Him—He tells him to feed His sheep. Our faith is meant to be lived out in how we care, serve, and love others.

2. Love requires embodiment.
Saying we love Christ is just the start. The world will know we follow Jesus not by our words alone, but by how we live, how we love, and how we serve.

3. Sometimes following Jesus means “re-rigging the boat.”
Casting nets on the other side wasn’t easy for the disciples—it meant reworking everything. Likewise, we’re often called to adapt, risk, and step outside our comfort zones for the sake of the Gospel.

4. The Church isn’t a destination—it’s a mission.
We aren’t called to simply fill seats, but to fill hearts. Church isn’t about buildings; it’s about being Christ’s body in the world—feeding His sheep wherever they are.

5. Everyone matters to God.
Jesus sought out Peter even after denial and failure. That same grace is offered to us—and we’re invited to extend it to others. Everyone, everywhere, matters to God.

Reflection Questions:

Where is Jesus calling me to “re-rig the boat” in my life or ministry?

Who in my life needs to hear or experience Christ’s love this week?

How can I embody the love of Christ beyond the walls of the church?

#329: Rev. David Hockett // May 4, 2025 Sermon May 05, 2025

Show notes

Take-Home Notes for the Congregation:

1. God’s Love Is Relentless and Unconditional
Just like the mother bunny in The Runaway Bunny, God's love follows us wherever we go. Nothing can separate us from it—not fear, failure, distance, or doubt.

2. The Good Shepherd Leads—He Doesn’t Drive
Sheep follow the voice they know. Jesus doesn't push us forward; He goes ahead of us, calling us to follow Him in trust and love.

3. God Comes to Find Us, Not Just Wait for Us
The gospel isn't just about a light on a distant hill—it’s about the God who leaves the fire, steps into the cold night, and brings us home.

4. The Image of the Shepherd Is a Comfort—And a Call
Jesus seeks the lost and brings them home, but He also calls us to do the same. We are invited to follow Him by becoming shepherds—agents of love, compassion, justice, and healing.

5. Our Response Is to Follow and Reflect the Shepherd
To live as Easter people is to go where Jesus goes—into the valleys, into the suffering, into the lost places—bringing the light of God’s love with us.

Reflection Question for the Week:
Who in your life might be longing for the warmth of God’s love? How can you reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd to them this week?

#328: Rev. Dr. Brad Hinton // April 27, 2025 Sermon Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Jesus meets us where we are.
Even when the disciples were hiding in fear, Jesus came to them with compassion, offering peace, not judgment.

Our faith journey requires training.
Like the disciples, we often fall back on old habits in hard times. We build resilience through spiritual practices: Scripture, prayer, communion, acts of mercy, and Christian community.

Fear doesn't disqualify us.
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to "get it all right." He meets us in our fear and sends us out empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Doubt is part of the journey.
Thomas' story shows that questioning and searching are natural parts of growing in faith. Jesus welcomes our honest doubts and calls us deeper into belief.

We are called to go and offer peace.
As Easter people, we are not meant to stay locked in fear. We are sent to be a presence of peace, hope, and love to a hurting world.

Key phrase to hold onto:
"Peace be with you." — Let this be the posture you carry into every encounter.

#327: Rev. David Hockett // April 20, 2025 Sermon Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Easter Is Now:
Easter isn’t just a past event—it’s the beginning of a new and abundant life today. Christ’s resurrection means life, hope, and freedom are already breaking into the world.

Faith Is Encounter:
The earliest Christians didn’t believe simply because of an empty tomb; they believed because they encountered the living Christ. Our faith is built on meeting Jesus personally.

Hope for a Hurting World:
Even when life feels like Good Friday, Easter reminds us that the worst is never the end. If everything is not yet all right, it’s not the end.

Easter Is for Everyone:
In the Eastern Church, resurrection is seen not just as personal victory but communal transformation. Christ’s resurrection lifts up all of humanity.

Living the Resurrection:
Because Christ lives, we are called to live differently—with courage, compassion, hope, and community. Our lives are meant to reflect the reality of Easter every day.

Everything Will Be All Right:
Easter assures us that, through Christ, life and love have the final word. No matter the darkness we face, God's love is making all things new.

#326: Rev. David Hockett // April 13, 2025 Sermon Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Disordered Love: Sin isn’t just bad behavior—it’s often loving the wrong things too much, and the right things too little. Pride begins here.

Pride vs. Humility: Pride makes everything transactional and self-centered. Humility asks, "Who are you?"—not "What can you do for me?"

Jesus’ Example: On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility, not power. He modeled a life of service, not domination.

The Way of the Cross: Jesus invites us to follow him by dying to pride and embracing the humility that sees every person as sacred.

Freedom in Identity: We are “dust”—but sacred dust, made in God's image. Knowing this frees us from chasing status and lets us love well.

Holy Week Question: Do we really believe that humble, sacrificial love is the path to life? Are we willing to follow it?

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📝 Take-Home Notes: The Fifth Gospel

📝 Take-Home Notes: Profanity in the Church

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