Welcome to the podcast and discussion page of Marvin McMurry and Amazonia United Methodist Churches.  Amazonia UMC is located on the corner of 5th & Spring streets in Amazonia, MO, where we gather to worship every Sunday at 9:00 am.  Marvin McMurry UMC is located at 3406 St. Joseph Ave. in St. Joseph, MO, and worships at 10:45 am with Sunday School at 9:30.  We invite you to worship with us at either location.

If you cannot join us in person we hope that these podcasts will be a blessing to you and bring you closer to God in your faith journey.

Pastor Dean

This Veteran’s Day Sunday we remembered all those who have served us and our country.  We also looked at the sacrifice of several Biblical figures. 

Pastor Dean

Today’s message is somewhat abreviated so that we could conclude services early to celebrate the 99th birthday of our oldest member.  The message is the concluding message in our three part series about the nature of God.  Last week we talked about the omniscience of God and the week before that the omnipresence of God.  Today’s message concerns the omnipotence of God. 

Pastor Dean

This is the second in the series about the nature of God.  Today we talk about the omniscience of God and what that means for us, His people and all people.

Listen and enjoy.

Pastor Dean

This is the first in a three part series in which we discuss the nature of God.  We will discuss the omnipresence of God, the omniscience of God and the omnipotence of God. 

I hope that this series will give you some insights into the nature of God and how we worship Him.

Pastor Dean

This is the final installment of a four part series.  In I Corinthians 13 it says “these three remain, faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.”  This scripture is heard often at weddings but listen to the message about a broader meaning of love.

Pastor Dean

The message at the wedding was a precursor to next week’s message at church.  The groom had asked me to talk about perseverance.  Relying on I Corinthians 13:7 I talked about how true love helps couples get through the difficult times that arise in the course of a marriage.

May God bless the marriage of that young couple and grant them a long, loving life together.

Pastor Dean

This is the third part of a four part series.  Today we talked about “charity”.  What is true charity and to whom is it extended.

Last week we talked about “Faith”, this week we talk about “Hope”.  These last two messages are part of a four part series; “Faith”, “Hope”, “Charity” and “Love”.  These are all terms we hear discussed when talking about the Christian faith.  What is the meaning and place of each of these terms in understanding what it is we believe?

I hope these messages spur some thought and lead you to a deeper understanding.

Pastor Dean

The Bible has many stories about people of extraordinary faith.  Faith is very powerful but we stand in our own way of experiencing the full power of faith.  It is my prayer that this message might open your heart and mind to more fully experience the power of your faith.

Pastor Dean

LeRoy was a man who truly had Christ in his heart and that light shined for everyone to see, not just family and friends or parishioners but everyone.  I know there is rejoicing in heaven as LeRoy is welcomed home but here we will sorely miss this faithful servant of God.

I scrapped the sermon I planned for today and spoke extemporaneously about some of my memories of LeRoy and what some of those memories mean to me.

Last week we talked about the first two pieces of the armor that God gives to stand up for Him, the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.  Today we talk about the remaining pieces described for us in Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus.  Listen to what we have to say about the Sandals of the Gospel, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation & Sword of the Spirit.

God calls us to stand up to the evil in the world.  God even gives us the tools, “the armor”, to fortify ourselves for the battle.  Listen to this the first of two parts on the “Full Armor of God”.

Pastor Dean

When we have true faith there is no room for doubt about what it is that God has done for us.  The great sacrafice made to bring mankind back into relationship with God is more than we can imagine; but have no doubt, God has done this for us.

Pastor Dean

God sees and knows all we think, do and say.  Like a concerned parent I’m sure God some times just wants to say to us, “Just stop it!”

Pastor Dean

Perhaps a better title for today’s message would be “Lessons I learned at camp”.  For the first time I served as a camp counselor at an elementary camp.  It was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot and hopefully the 3rd, 4th & 5th graders there learned a lot too.  Today I shared with the congregation some of those camping lessons.

Pastor Dean

This past week I attended the funeral of a very good man.  I was reminded of this addage, “Live your life so that the preacher doesn’t have to lie about you at your funeral”.  Listen to this message based on the letter written by Jesus’ brother, James.

Pastor Dean

God created us to have a relationship with Him.  He desires our relationship with Him to be authentic and genuine.  In order to do that we must be open and honest with God.  After all, He is omniscient, that is He already knows all.

Pastor Dean

God calls each of us to go boldly forth in His name.  But we also need to remember that we can boldly speak up for Christ while at the same time doing so with the love of Christ.  We are also called to gentleness and compassion.

Pastor Dean

As Independence Day nears we think about patriotism and citizenship.  As Christians, though, we should think about our true citizenship.  We are citizens of heaven and are only visiting here for a little while.  Every thing we do should be done as ambassadors of heaven.

Pastor Dean