Sermons by Pastor Craig recorded live at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Granite Quarry, NC. Church Website - https://www.shilohgq.com/ Personal Website - https://www.craigsefa.org/
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What does genuine freedom actually look like? In the summer of America's 250th anniversary, this five-week series works through Paul's letter to the Galatians alongside the lives of remarkable Americans who embodied a kind of freedom that cost them something and built something lasting. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Greg Boyle each discovered what Paul was writing about long before they had the language for it. Freedom, it turns out, is more expansive, more costly, and more demanding than anything we celebrate with fireworks. And it has everything to d
What does genuine freedom actually look like? In the summer of America's 250th anniversary, this five-week series works through Paul's letter to the Galatians alongside the lives of remarkable Americans who embodied a kind of freedom that cost them something and built something lasting. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Greg Boyle each discovered what Paul was writing about long before they had the language for it. Freedom, it turns out, is more expansive, more costly, and more demanding than anything we celebrate with fireworks. And it has everything to d
What does genuine freedom actually look like? In the summer of America's 250th anniversary, this five-week series works through Paul's letter to the Galatians alongside the lives of remarkable Americans who embodied a kind of freedom that cost them something and built something lasting. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Greg Boyle each discovered what Paul was writing about long before they had the language for it. Freedom, it turns out, is more expansive, more costly, and more demanding than anything we celebrate with fireworks. And it has everything to d
What does genuine freedom actually look like? In the summer of America's 250th anniversary, this five-week series works through Paul's letter to the Galatians alongside the lives of remarkable Americans who embodied a kind of freedom that cost them something and built something lasting. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Greg Boyle each discovered what Paul was writing about long before they had the language for it. Freedom, it turns out, is more expansive, more costly, and more demanding than anything we celebrate with fireworks. And it has everything to d
What does genuine freedom actually look like? In the summer of America's 250th anniversary, this five-week series works through Paul's letter to the Galatians alongside the lives of remarkable Americans who embodied a kind of freedom that cost them something and built something lasting. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Greg Boyle each discovered what Paul was writing about long before they had the language for it. Freedom, it turns out, is more expansive, more costly, and more demanding than anything we celebrate with fireworks. And it has everything to d
This week we are finishing up our reflections on the significance of the Creeds, especially the Apostle's Creed. Through and Open & Relational lens, we are considering the implications of these basic beliefs on how we live our everyday lives. Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa.
This week and next week we are reflecting on the significance of the Creeds, especially the Apostle's Creed. Through and Open & Relational lens, we are considering the implications of these basic beliefs on how we live our everyday lives. Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa.
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This Easter season, we’re moving beyond simply believing in the resurrection to experiencing and living it—through the eyes of those who witnessed it first. As you hear these stories from the perspectives of the Centurion, Peter, Mary, Cleopas and his companion, Thomas, Paul, and the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ ascension, we invite you to place yourself in their story. Where do your experiences—your questions, confusion, doubts, hopes, and fears—intersect with theirs? _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
from Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin: Resurrection is what happens every time love refuses to stay buried, every time hope rises up out of places everyone else has given up on, every time a community comes back together after being torn apart, every time justice gets back on its feet after being knocked down again. Look at the world. Everywhere there’s pain, there’s also someone showing up with compassion. Everywhere there’s despair, there’s someone planting seeds anyway. That’s resurrection! That’s new life breaking through the cracks. Resurrection isn’t magic. It’s movement. It’s love getting up again
We are spending this Lenten season in Samaria, at a well with Jesus. Join us between now and Easter as we slowly unpack this familar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and what it might mean to encounter Jesus at the wells of our own ordinary lives. Note: There is no recording of Part 1 because we had table conversations rather than a regular sermon. However, you can read my written reflections for part 1 at https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2026/02/22/a-dry-and-weary-land _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
We are spending this Lenten season in Samaria, at a well with Jesus. Join us between now and Easter as we slowly unpack this familar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and what it might mean to encounter Jesus at the wells of our own ordinary lives. Note: There is no recording of Part 1 because we had table conversations rather than a regular sermon. However, you can read my written reflections for part 1 at https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2026/02/22/a-dry-and-weary-land The spoken word segment at the beginning of this sermon can be found in video format at https://youtu.be/Q49BbfgJbto?si=e
We are spending this Lenten season in Samaria, at a well with Jesus. Join us between now and Easter as we slowly unpack this familar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and what it might mean to encounter Jesus at the wells of our own ordinary lives. Note: There is no recording of Part 1 because we had table conversations rather than a regular sermon. However, you can read my written reflections for part 1 at https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2026/02/22/a-dry-and-weary-land The spoken word segment at the beginning of this sermon can be found in video format at https://youtu.be/Q49BbfgJbto?si=e
We are spending this Lenten season in Samaria, at a well with Jesus. Join us between now and Easter as we slowly unpack this familar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and what it might mean to encounter Jesus at the wells of our own ordinary lives. Note: There is no recording of Part 1 because we had table conversations rather than a regular sermon. However, you can read my written reflections for part 1 at https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2026/02/22/a-dry-and-weary-land _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
We are spending this Lenten season in Samaria, at a well with Jesus. Join us between now and Easter as we slowly unpack this familar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and what it might mean to encounter Jesus at the wells of our own ordinary lives. Note: There is no recording of Part 1 because we had table conversations rather than a regular sermon. However, you can read my written reflections for part 1 at https://www.craigsefa.org/blog/2026/02/22/a-dry-and-weary-land _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
What are your blind spots? Where do you think you see most clearly? This week, Jesus invites us to be honest when we don’t see as clearly as we think, and to stay engaged long enough for our eyes to be fully opened. _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
Two women of very different social status, both healed and equally valued by Jesus. Join me as we reflect on the ways we deem people more or less worthy of care and compassion in our own society, and how Jesus breaks down those barriers to care for every person as a beloved child of God. _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
This week is a little different. While I used the story of the Feeding of the 5,000 originally planned for this series, I focus more on the crowds and the way Jesus responded to them with compassion as he and his disciples traveled from town to town. Alongside this story, I also offer my personal reflections on my experience with the Buddhist monks this weekend on their walk for peace. I invite you to set aside any preconceptions about Buddhism and Christianity and simply hear these stories side by side. Then honestly ask yourself, are you willing to walk in this mutual way of peace? _______ P
In systems that are constantly overwhelmed and unable to meet every need, we still struggle with questions of who is deserving of care, who should be prioritized, who can afford it, and who is put on hold or cut off entirely. Such questions should not be necessary, and they never come with easy answers. But Jesus reminds us that when it comes to caring for basic human needs, there is no stigma, no shame, and no sin that can separate a person from the mercy and love of God. He shows us that healthcare is not a political issue, but a human one, and one that God cares deeply about. Whose mat is G
As we begin 2026, we are following the Wesleyan Tradition of a Covenant Renewal Service to recommit our path to God’s desire in the new year. Join us as we reflect together on how God is inviting us to renewal and flourishing in our present season of life. Like the magi, we are invited to return to our lives after the Christmas season by a different route. _______ Podcast Intro recorded by Ariana Sefa
