St. John's United Methodist Church - Edwardsville, IL

"The Rule that Rules the Ruler!" By Rev. Troy Benton

 Easter Sunday,  March  27th  2016

Matthew 22:34-40 TNIV

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ^[35] One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ^[36] "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ^[37] Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ^[38] This is the first and greatest commandment. ^[39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ^[40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

 

John 3:16 TNIV 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Pt. 2, "God's Reasons for Rules (God's State of the Kingdom Address), Con't." By Rev. Troy Benton

Sunday,  March  20th  2016

Matthew 21:1-11 CEB

When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, "Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anybody says anything to you, say that the Lord needs it." He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, " Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.”  The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them. Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, " Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!" And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. "Who is this?" they asked. The crowds answered, "It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

Pt. 1, "God's Reasons for Rules (God's State of the Kingdom Address)" By Rev. Troy Benton

Sunday,March 13th, 2016

Scripture 

Deuteronomy 5:22-27, (CEB)

²² Those are the words the Lord spoke to your entire assembly with a loud voice while on the mountain, from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick smoke. He added no more. God wrote them on two stone tablets, then gave them to me. ²³ Now once you heard the voice from the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, you came to me—more specifically, all the chiefs of your tribes and your elders came— ²⁴ and you said: “Look here! The Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness. We’ve heard his voice come out of the very fire itself. We’ve seen firsthand that God can speak to a human being and they can survive! ²⁵ But why should we die? Surely this massive fire will consume us! If we hear any more of the Lord our God’s voice, we will die. ²⁶ Is there anyone who has heard the living God’s voice speaking out of the very fire itself, like we have, and survived? ²⁷ You go and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us all that the Lord our God speaks to you. We’ll listen and we’ll do it.”

 

 

"Where Oneness Reigns" Rev. Gary Henderson

Sunday, March 6th, 2016

 Scripture 

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

"Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ" 

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

"KNEE-O-LO-GY" Pt. 4: “Take A Knee" By Rev. Troy Benton

Sunday, February 28th, 2016

Scripture 

Mark 1:40-45 (Common English Bible) 

"A man with a skin disease" 40 A man with a skin disease approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me clean.” 41 Incensed, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” 42 Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was clean. 43 Sternly, Jesus sent him away, 44 saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.” 45 Instead, he went out and started talking freely and spreading the news so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, but people came to him from everywhere.

 

 

"KNEE-O-LO-GY", Pt. 3: “The Highest Peak" By Rev. Troy Benton

Sunday, February 21st, 2016

Scripture 

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy! 2 Their descendants will be strong throughout the land. The offspring of those who do right will be blessed; 3 wealth and riches will be in their houses. Their righteousness stands forever. 4 They shine in the dark for others who do right. They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous. 5 Those who lend generously are good people—as are those who conduct their affairs with justice. 6 Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever! 7 They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid. In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat. 9 They give freely to those in need. Their righteousness stands forever. Their strength increases gloriously. 10 The wicked see all this and fume; they grind their teeth, but disappear to nothing. What the wicked want to see happen comes to nothing! 

Philippians 2:1-11

Imitate Christ 1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, 2 complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. 3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4 Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. 5 Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: 6 Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. 7 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, 10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.