It's Better When You're Here!

This series is all about the sayings we treat like Scripture—even when they are not. Some are meant to comfort. Others just look good on a coffee mug.

This week, we are firmly in coffee mug territory: “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”

In Matthew 7, Jesus warns us about focusing on what is wrong with someone else while ignoring what needs attention in ourselves.

So maybe we need a simpler alternative: Love the person. Put the love into action.

Not from a distance. Not with an asterisk. Put the love into a...

This week feels strongest if we emphasize that the phrase is usually well-intentioned, but can quietly place an impossible burden on people.

Last week, we began our Out of Context series by looking at one of those phrases that sounds biblical, even though it is not: “God helps those who help themselves.”

This week, we turn to another saying that usually shows up when life is at its hardest: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

It is often spoken with love. It is meant to comfort someone who is hurting, o...

The Bible gets blamed for a lot of things it never actually says.

Some sayings are meant to comfort us. Some are supposed to sound wise. And some are just Christian-sounding enough that we assume they must be somewhere in Proverbs.

Over the next several weeks, in our new series Out of Context, we are going to take some of these familiar phrases off the Hobby Lobby wall, dust them off, and ask: Is this actually Scripture? And more importantly, is this actually good news?

We begin with a classic: “God helps those wh...

Over the last two weeks, we have been asking what truly defines us as the people called Shepherds.

We began with Hope—an audacious, active hope in Jesus Christ that we are called to share with the world. Then last week, we turned to Light and asked what it means to be a lighthouse: a people who point others away from the darkness of sin and death and toward the life we find in Christ.

And now, we come to the heart of it all: Love.

At Shepherds, we say, “With God’s help...

Last week, as we began our Defined series, we talked about the hope we have in Jesus Christ—and how that hope is not something we simply hold onto for ourselves. It is something we actively share with the world.

At Shepherds, we say: “With God’s help, we embrace and connect with all people and together experience the Love, Light, and Hope of Jesus Christ.”

This week, we turn to the Light.

Romans 6 reminds us of a hard truth: sin leads to death. Sin pulls us into darkness, convinces us that there is no wa...

We are coming out of a series on evangelism, where we have talked about what it means to share good news in a world that desperately needs it. And now, we are turning the question inward.

What defines us?

At Shepherds, we say: “With God’s help, we embrace and connect with all people and together experience the Love, Light, and Hope of Jesus Christ.” That is our mission statement—but over the next three weeks, we are going to ask what those words really mean. What does it look like for that mission to shape wh...

This is our final week in this series on Evangelism, and I hope over these last few weeks we’ve learned a little more about what it actually means to be an evangelist—what it means to tell good news in a world that desperately needs some.

But the truth remains: it can feel a little different when the invitation becomes specific.

It is one thing to talk about Jesus. It is another thing to look someone in the eye and say, “Come with me to my United Methodist Church.”

And yet, that kind of...

ast week, I shared with you the crazy vision I believe God has given us for Shepherds: a network of churches, never larger than 300 people, connected across neighborhoods by one common message—the Love, Light, and Hope of Jesus Christ.

But if that vision is going to become reality, then we have to learn how to tell that story.

Because we live in a world filled with doubt, pain, cynicism, and more bad news than we know what to do with. And honestly, people are not looking for another argument. They are looking for something tr...

Welcome to a brand-new series here at Shepherds: Evangelism. I think evangelism is having a bit of an identity crisis.

On one side, we see people shouting on street corners or commandeering the attention of an entire airplane to spout Christian talking points—and calling it evangelism. On the other, we see Christians becoming so quiet about their faith that following Jesus starts to feel like some top-secret part of their personality. Surely there has to be another way.

In Matthew 28, Jesus sends his followers into the world—not to be obnoxious, and not to disa...

Today we come to the final week of our People of Prayer series—and this series has challenged me.

Prayer takes the faith of our minds and hearts and brings it into our everyday lives. For some of us, it takes something we practice only on Sunday and turns it into something that disrupts our “normal.”

In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that prayer is not simply something we say—it is a way of living that helps us recognize where God is already at work.

Today, we’ll explore the disruptive power of prayer and...

As we continue exploring the People of Prayer series, we must face an uncomfortable truth: sometimes it feels as though our prayers have fallen on deaf ears.

Any series on prayer that ignores unanswered prayer misses a profound part of the human experience—the pain of asking without receiving, seeking without finding, and waiting without understanding.

Yet in Luke 11, Jesus invites us to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. Today, may we look boldly at the pain of prayers that feel unanswered—and discover the life and hope waiting on the other side.

Pa...

“Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven.”

Prayer is a mystical union between the Church and the Trinity. We pray to the Father, through the Holy Spirit, in the words Jesus taught us.

Yet just because prayer is mystical does not mean it must remain mysterious. Jesus brings prayer back to three simple movements: acknowledging who God is, who we are, and how things could be.

As we begin People of Pra...

Today we are wrapping up our Summer at the Movies series, and for this final week, we are stepping into the world of Zootopia.

At first glance, Zootopia looks like a colorful city full of every kind of animal imaginable. Different species, different backgrounds, different instincts, different stories—all trying to live together in one place. But as the story unfolds, we begin to see that even in a place that looks diverse, not everyone is fully seen, fully heard, or fully welcomed.

In Luke 14, Jesus is at a table. But as always with Jesus, th...

The Summer at the Movies series continues this week, and we are stepping into one of the most iconic stories ever told on screen: Star Wars.

At its heart, Star Wars is a story about light and darkness, good and evil, hope and redemption. And one of the most powerful moments comes when everyone else sees Darth Vader as a monster, but Luke Skywalker still sees something more. Everyone else sees judgment. Luke looks for light.

And that brings us to one of the most familiar stories Jesus ever told: the story of the prodigal...

Last week, we talked about our true identity and why it really matters. I said often that who you are—who you truly are—matters to God.

This week, I want to zoom out a little.

Because who we are does not only matter personally. It matters communally. It matters because we belong to one another. We need one another.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds us that the church is not simply a room full of individuals. The church is a body. And a disconnected body will never thrive.

So as we cont...

The Summer at the Movies sermon series has begun, and it is always one of my favorites.

It gives us the chance to dive deeply into our faith while also giving us permission to laugh, wonder, and hold lightly some powerful lessons. Sometimes the stories that seem the most familiar can help us see the truth of the Gospel in a fresh way.

This week, we are stepping into the world of Toy Story and asking a question that matters deeply to every single one of us: Who am I, really?

Because who...

It's my privilege to serve as the summer pastoral intern here at Shepherd's. This season has given me the opportunity to learn and grow alongside our incredible staff, and it has also given me the chance to spend a lot of time with Michael LaBlanc.

When we hear the word *piety*, we often think about personal spiritual disciplines—prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, worship, and personal devotion. All of these are essential to the Christian life. Yet Christian piety was never meant to be lived in isolation.

The Christian life is both personal and communal. We ar...

It's Father's Day, a day when we celebrate not only our dads but also one of the many ways Scripture speaks about God—as Father.

But here at Shepherds, it's also Pie + Tea Sunday.

Why Pie + Tea? Well, because one Sunday I wanted to preach about piety, and "piety" sounds a little bit like "pie and tea." That's the honest answer.

But there's a deeper reason too. At Shepherds, we aspire to be slightly odd, a little different from the norm. We believe faithfulness sometimes looks strange to the world around us.

...

This week, we're excited to share a message from our guest preacher, Reverend Emily Hotho.

As we listen, we pray that God will encourage, challenge, and strengthen us through His Word. So wherever you're listening from, let's lean in together and hear what the Lord has for us today.

Passage: John 10: 11-16 CEB

Thank you for joining us. Today, we answer questions submitted by members of our church and community—questions about God, Scripture, faith, life, and what it means to follow Jesus today.

While the questions may come from different experiences and perspectives, our goal is always the same: to seek biblical truth, offer Christ-centered encouragement, and help one another grow in faith.

So let's open God's Word and explore today's submitted questions. Welcome to "Ask A Pastor" anything.

Last week we talked about silence, and honestly, I've never felt more countercultural.

As followers of Jesus, we often live in a tension. We are called to love the people of this world deeply while also recognizing that the way things are is not the way God intended them to be. We celebrate what is good, beautiful, and true, while also naming the places where our culture pulls us away from the life God desires for us.

Last week's conversation about silence was a prime example of that. So many of you reached out afterward...

Last week, we unpacked prayer and explored what it means to pray—and why our prayers matter. This week, I want us to lean into another spiritual discipline: silence.

Now honestly, when I told someone I was preaching on silence, I immediately regretted it. I think my exact words were, “Why did I say I would preach on silence?!” And without missing a beat, she said, “Ah yes… silence. The thing you love so much.”

And listen—that’s fair. I love to talk. I love conversation, stories, laughter, noise. I love to yap.

But somewhere...

As Annual Conference gathers the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church here in Lakeland, we are invited into a powerful theme: awakening to grace. In the Methodist tradition, we believe God meets us through the means of grace—through prayer, worship, communion, Scripture, service, and community. These practices are not just habits; they are holy pathways that awaken us to the presence and love of God already at work among us.

In this new series, we will reconnect with our spiritual heritage while discovering fresh ways to experience God’s grace in our everyday lives. My hope...

As we come to the close of our series, Like a Girl, it feels fitting that we also gather to celebrate Mother's Day. Every one of us has a mother, and today’s story centers on two women whose lives show us the beauty of shared love and shared strength. Together, they offer us a vision of what life can look like when community matters more than self-interest. Their story invites us into a way of living where care is mutual, burdens are shared, and love is given freely. May we learn to love ourselves well, so that we ca...

In a world captivated by the image of the lone, heroic leader, the story of Deborah reminds us that the greatest callings in our lives are never meant to be carried alone. As Gretchen learned in the Marine Corps, and as we discover in our everyday lives, we always go farther when we go together. Today, I want to remind us all that each of us leads somewhere, and that the best outcomes are often waiting on the other side of collaboration. So may we have the courage, wisdom, and humility to lead like Deborah.

Passage: Judges 4:6...

As we begin a new series exploring the often-overlooked stories of women in the Bible, it feels important to say this: it shouldn’t have to be a series—but it does.

Women have always been central to our faith. Their courage, leadership, and witness are woven throughout Scripture. And yet, too often, their stories have been minimized while louder voices have tried to define their place. If those voices have been loud, then ours must be louder still.

I’m grateful to add my voice to this growing chorus—people whose faith has been strength...

Join Reverend Michael LeBlanc at our Chapel Campus as we celebrate a full year of worshiping together every Sunday in this wonderful location. Be part of this special milestone and experience the joy of community, reflection, and faith.

Passage: John 20:19-31 CEB

Friends, Lent is over.

As a church, we’ve spent this sacred season wrestling with deconstruction—what it means to gently, honestly take apart a faith that may have been handed to us in pieces that no longer fit, and to begin rebuilding something more durable, more vibrant, more expansive. Not a faith rooted in fear, but one grounded in truth. Not something brittle, but something alive.

And today is Easter.

Today, we remember that what we are building is not a system of rules or a list of boundaries. It is not smal...

Join Reverend Michael at our Chapel Campus during our sunrise service on Easter morning.

Passage: John 20:11-18 CEB

The joy of my life is to be— as a friend once named it— confetti for Jesus.

Bright. Scattered. Alive with celebration. But tonight… Good Friday asks something different of me. It asks me to gather the pieces, to still the color, to quiet the joy. Because this night is not like the others.

This is not a night for noise or lightness.

Tonight, the world slows. The sky darkens. And we remember.

We stand at the foot of the cross— not rushing past it, not softening it, not looking away.

Be...

As we come to the end of our Lenten journey—a season where we’ve taken a hard, honest look at the faith of our youth, where we’ve dared to deconstruct and begin reconstructing—I want to invite us one step further down this road.

We’ve spoken openly about deconstruction, trusting that together we are capable of rebuilding a faith that is durable, inclusive, and vibrant. A faith that can hold both our questions and our convictions.

But today, I want us to consider the next logical step in this journey: proclamation.

Because...

Join Lee Bradley as he brings the message to us this week.

Passage: John 3:1-18 ESV, Ezekiel 36:25-27 ESV, Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

A life of faith will require us to come to grips with the questions that life demands of us. These questions aren’t easy. As the old adage goes, the truth will set you free—but not until she’s done with you.

Today, I want us to look at what it means to be honest in community and to choose growth together. At Shepherds, belonging doesn’t require you to become less of who you are. But it will require something else.

It will require bravery.

Passage: Ephesians 4:1-7 CEB

Of all the things I love about Shepherds is that, as your pastor, I get to be very real with all of you.

Today I want to share a part of my testimony and talk honestly about something many of us experience but rarely discuss—the connection between grief and doubt.

Grief has a way of shaking us. It can stir questions we didn’t expect and doubts we never thought we’d have. But those moments don’t place us outside of God’s love—they often become the very places where we encounter it most deep...

The concept of deconstruction has swept through the Christian world. More and more people who grew up in the church are taking a courageous, honest look at what they were taught—examining it, questioning it, and searching for new ways of knowing God.

For many, deconstruction feels unsettling. For others, it feels necessary. And in many ways, it has become part of the lifeblood of Shepherd’s. So many of you have come to us from traditions that, for one reason or another, stopped working. You weren’t trying to walk away from God—you were trying to find...

On this first Sunday, I thought it would be wise for us to talk about our walk.

This series sets before us the intentions we will follow as a church. It invites us to move beyond words and into action — to take the faith we confess with our mouths and live it with our whole lives.

Today, as we begin a season of preparation, my hope is that we would recognize something beautiful: this is the best kind of life. Not the easiest life. Not the most comfortable life. But the life that is full, me...

Join us with guest Pastor, Greg Rusch, while Reverend Michael LeBlanc is out this week.

Passage: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV

No one likes to be interrupted.

Our day-to-day lives are filled to the brim with things competing for our attention—ads, social media, texts, the news—each one demanding a piece of us.

Today, I want to offer a different way of being interrupted.

An interruption that doesn’t steal from us, but frees us. One that makes space for God’s Kingdom to dwell among us as we allow the right things to interrupt the way things are.

May we be people who are willing to interrupt—for the sake of our nei...

Welcome to our new series, The Walk, where we explore what it truly means to follow Jesus in a way that shapes every moment of our lives. We don’t want a faith that lives only on paper—we want a faith that is lived, practiced, and embodied.

We begin with the practice that brought us all here: sharing our faith.

To share your faith with someone else is to step into the legacy of the saints who came before us. It is to see people the way Christ sees them. It is to love as J...

Plenty of churches exist for themselves. Some churches, even whole constellations of them, exist primarily to serve their members or elevate their pastors.

But as we wrap up our series on our mission statement today, we are reminded of why we exist. We exist to inspire the hope of Jesus Christ.

This is not a passive hope. It is not a hope meant to sit still or stay comfortable. It is a hope that puts on work clothes, that steps into the world, that serves, loves, and labors for the sake of others.

...