Just Sitting Here Thinking
A collection of sermons and lessons by Rev. J. Vance Eastridge of the United Methodist Church, including study series and ”introspective” character monologues. After more than 40 years as a pastor in the Holston Conference, Rev. Eastridge continued his ministry through the Virgil Anderson Sunday school class at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church from 1995 to 2012.
Episodes
For Easter, we revisit this lesson on St. Mark's account of Jesus' resurrection and the history of its translation and revision. The importance of the three women who discovered the empty tomb and the enigma of Joseph of Arimathea.
The closeness of Mark and Peter, and ending the story with the Great Commission: the message to spread the Good News, heal the sick and poor of spirit, and to be the power of Christ in the world.
An inspiring sermon on embracing risk over our fear of failure. The importance of striving for what is out of reach.
Shying away from our talents out of insecurity, while our talents are gifts given from God for a unique purpose to serve God.
How failure can be healthy, to be used and overcome but never accepted. Where we find ourselves in circumstances compared to what we envision for ourselves.
The need for the church to take ris...
Sermon on the invitation of Christ and the excuses we make to avoid the call, the lure of material attachments and our passions for other pursuits ahead of God.
The false expectations we place on God and ourselves. And how we can find the greatest joy by unlocking the barriers between us and following Jesus.
Sermon for World Communion Sunday on behaving like Christ toward one another in a culture where we often condone dishonesty, unkindness, and aggression. Remaining steadfast in the core of Jesus' teachings of peace, love, and giving, while fighting the false gods of nationalism and greed. Trusting God to guide us and living with an eye always on Christ's example.
Sermon on Eden, earth, creation, and how greed and selfishness prevent us from sharing God's gifts with each other. God has made us caretakers, and we have become claim-jumpers claiming God's creation for our own.
Because we are the caretakers also of one another, how racism, prejudice, violence and mistreatment are an affront to God and the gift of all creation.
And how we treat ourselves and live our lives is how we treat God's m...
Inspiring All Saints Day sermon on the ultimate question of mortality and the reassurance we have in living on through Christ.
Find the full playlist on YouTube
Paul's message to give affection for what is above. Not living on autopilot, with only the minimum effort required. Always challenging ourselves and setting goals beyond our ability in order to grow and to stay humble.
Building a relationship with God, and standing with courage and conviction for God's love. The power of allowing our faith to widen our imagination and opportunities. Our invitation from God to live for something gr...
In honor of Independence Day, here is this discussion referenced in the previous episode on the history of the church from the Holy Roman Empire to the Reformation, and the foundation of religious freedom in the American colonies up to today.
Lesson for Independence Day on the religious groups crossing the Atlantic Ocean to worship freely, the faith of the individual founders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, how the separation of church and state preserves religious liberty, and danger of ignoring the history of religion in America.
Sermon on pioneers in faith, Francis Asbury, the story of the circuit rider, and the urgent vitality of the United Methodist Church.
The needs of people for us to minister have been constant, from arriving in colonial days to the Pittman Center in the twentieth century, and Methodists have always been ready to serve.
The power and importance of the connectional church as a collective fellowship of believers, focused and active in ...
Brief sermon on being the light and peace of Christ, and the power and importance of the Holy Spirit.
Brief lesson on the promise of the coming savior in the 1st century A.D. Jesus' contemporaries under foreign oppression concentrated on the abundance of material blessing, not the spiritual awakening. Judea under Roman occupation envisioned the Messiah primarily as a military ruler.
Some, including Zealots, were intent on taking prophecy into their own hands, and believed they could force God's actions. Humankind can do nothing to ...
Sermon for a pastoral dedication on the call to ministry and feeling God's voice. The need for conviction to remain steadfast in your conscience, while keeping an open mind and submitting to trust in God.
Being informed, be able to be trusted, but not intellectualizing, meeting the needs of people with complex lives and sometimes heavy hearts.
Accepting, appreciating and loving them for who they are, without judgment. The challenge...
To celebrate Easter, we revisit this introspective monologue on the apostle Simon Peter from 2003. As always, no notes - just an extemporized yet structured meditation based on heavy research.
Also available in VIDEO at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjwG-eUhOOw&t=1329s
Lesson on the fundamental importance of grace and faith. Faith is our response to God. It must be a two-way relationship in order to deepen our connection and reveal God's presence in our lives.
Abraham is the father of our concept of faith, the first to make a covenant with God. God's call to Abraham to leave his homeland and create a new path. The conundrum of his call to sacrifice Isaac.
The legitimacy of both Isaac and Ishmael ...
Lesson on Paul and the church at Corinth, and reconciling with God in our lives. Paul's journey to live with the values he preached, his need to gain the peoples' trust, and the need for all of us to lead by example.
In Christ, there is a new life. But it comes differently, at different times for different people. Why not everyone who becomes a Christian feels a "conversion experience." John Wesley's example of a Christian wanting ...
"Who do you say that I am?" Lesson on Jesus' great question to the apostles and Peter's answer, "You are the Messiah, Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)
The true meaning of being the Messiah and fulfilling the prophecy. The difficulty for the apostles to accept the ultimate sacrifice, and their dedication to a life of discipleship. Finding our own calling and hearing what God is asking each of us. The blessings that come with...
Sermon on the vital importance of education and guiding children early with Jesus' example.
Sermon for World Communion Sunday on behaving like Christ toward one another in a culture where we often condone dishonesty, unkindness, and aggression. Remaining steadfast in the core of Jesus' teachings of peace, love, and giving, while fighting the false gods of nationalism and greed. Trusting God to guide us and living with an eye always on Christ's example.
Inspiring All Saints Day sermon on the ultimate question of mortality and the reassurance we have in living on through Christ.
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