Midway Christian Church Sermon Podcast

Part 5: Fifty Days of Easter, May 25, 2025 

This strange story of the Ethiopian eunuch could haveeasily laid out a rigid dogma of belief which the early church was supposed to follow. This story could have easily set the course for practice which would have shaped the Church for generations to come. Instead, it offers a glimpse into an encounter where the Holy Spirit is present. It offers us an invitation to share the faith through conversation and dialogue. In other words, instead of rigid dogma, this strange story reminds us that what is needed to share the Gospel message is compassion, openness, and a willingness to follow the Spirit where it leads.

"Do You Really Understand What You Are Reading"

Acts 8: 26-39

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, MidwayKY

Part 4: Fifty Days of Easter, May 18, 2025 

Stephen’s story reminds us of the challenges of discipleship, things we often tend to forget or ignore. It shows us that we are called to testify in all things and through all things to God’s love. It also reminds us to not forget that Christ was crucified for speaking truth to love and grace, and as his disciples, we cannot expect different treatment.

"Stephen's Witness"

Acts 6:1 - 7:2a, 44-60

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 3: Fifty Days of Easter, May 11, 2025 

Through the story of the walk to Emmaus, the author of Luke is reminding us, as ones who follow a Risen Savior, the very core of our faith is the knowledge, the understanding, the promise given to us by a God who loves us more than we could ever imagine. At the very core of our faith is the promise that death does not have the last word. Where the world sees an ending, as people of faith, we know God is there, bringing about healing and wholeness."Walk to Emmaus"

Luke 24: 13-35

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: Fifty Days of Easter, May 4, 2025 

In our text for this morning, having denied Christ three times, Peter is given a chance for reconciliation. But I would argue that the author of our text extends that chance to us as well. We are given an opportunity to embrace our call to listen and follow Jesus in this new reality and to show we love Jesus by feeding Jesus’ sheep, by tending his lambs. Like Peter, like the disciples, we are now the Shepherd’s heart and hands in this world."Feed My Sheep"

John 21: 1-19

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 1: Fifty Days of Easter, April 27, 2025 

The Appalachian region is deeply rooted in customs that have been handed down for generations. “Planting by the signs,” a practice predicated on the belief that moon phases and astrological signs exert a powerful influence on the growth and well-being of crops, is deemed superstitious by some but has been considered essential to gardeners and farmers for centuries and is still in use today.

Earth Sunday

"There is a Season"

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 7: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, April 20, 2025

How do you make the Easter story new again? Haven’t we heard it all before? These are the questions I ask myself, to which I reply: I don’t. We don’t. And that is the point. It is the same story we tell again and again because it IS the same story again and again. What changes is us as Jesus’ disciples. Every time we encounter this story, it remains the same, the promise remains the same, yet we are changed. We are transformed. We are made new.

"The Sun Rises"

Mark 16: 1-8

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 6: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, April 13, 2025

“[Like the people of Jerusalem,] we are in a time when we need to draw on courage to call into question the structures that uphold systems of oppression. We are in a time when we need to subvert the powerful and protect the vulnerable. The crowds close in on Jesus. Some lift their hands in praise, others point accusingly. I hope this image serves as a reminder to call upon God for the courage you need, to rest and recharge for the work ahead. But I hope it also heartens you to move forward in courage, even in the midst of great resistance, toward the work God is calling you into.” —Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

"We Draw on Courage"

John 12: 1-19

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 5: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, April 6, 2025

Too often we use so much of our energy trying to maintain the past or present, that we no longer have the strength to embrace the future. It is never about forgetting what was. It is about honoring the path which brought us here and knowing that the path does not, cannot, go in only in one directon. Rather, the path will have twists and turns, unexpected valleys and mountains, all opportunities to teach us about ourselves, about life, about our world, about our relationships, about who we are and whose we are.

"We Are Reformed"

Jeremiah 31: 31-34

John 12: 20-33

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 4: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, March 30, 2025

What if God’s love and redeeming grace was our repeated refrain, our way of life, our way of understanding who we are, our way of seeing the world, our way of seeing every single person? Just imagine if we lived our lives in response to God’s love and redeeming grace instead of trying to earn it.

"God Loves First"

Ephesians 2: 1-10

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 3: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, March 23, 2025

As people of faith, again and again we are shown the way; a way which overturns tables; a way which brings down walls; a way which creates community and connection between us all. As people of faith, again and again we are shown the way; a way which this world calls foolish; a way which defies our understanding; a way which is sometimes disruptive and uncomfortable.

"We Are Shown the Way"

John 2: 13-22; 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, March 16, 2025

“The Lenten journey calls us to examine the things in which our hearts are invested, recognizing that we often insert our voices into the silence of God. Lent invites us to listen to God’s wisdom for us and truly see who Jesus is, not just who we have created him to be.”

"We Are Called to Listen"

Mark 8: 31-9: 8

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 1: Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain, March 9, 2025

The story of God’s covenant following the Great Flood reminds us that, again and again, God meets us. God meets us and promises to stay with us. “This story reminds us to hope, to believe that even in the midst of the storms, a new tomorrow awaits” us. We hold to this hope because we know God meets us where we are…in the broken, the hurt, in the chaos after the flood. “God meets us with a promise sealed with a bow bursting with the endless spectrum of color light holds.”

"God Meets Us"

Genesis 9: 8-17

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 6: Messages From 7the Gospel of Luke, March 2, 2025

It is God’s word, it is God’s wisdom which gives us the strength, gives us the courage to become people of love and grace, to live in a way which reflects the Beloved Community in all we do and say."A House Without A Foundation"

Luke 6: 39-49

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 5: Messages From the Gospel of Luke, February 23, 2025

God shows grace, God shows mercy, God shows love to the just and the unjust. Luke tells us that we are to act in ways, speak in ways which reflect the character of God in all things and through all things because “God is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.”

"Behaving as God's Children"

Luke 6: 27-38

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 4: Messages From the Gospel of Luke, February 16, 2025

 Just as the disciples chose to hear Jesus, we can choose to invite the Gospel message into our hearts, in our minds, into our very beings. We can invite the Gospel message to transform us, to help us become the people of love and grace. Or we can choose to make the Gospel message simply words we say on Sunday morning."To Hear and To Be Healed"

"To Hear and To Be Healed"

Luke 6: 17-26

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 3: Messages From the Gospel of Luke, February 9, 2025

Luke reminds us that our call as followers of Jesus is not about saving souls. It is not about membership numbers. Our call, our mission, our identity, our ministry as Jesus’ disciples is about building relationships with others, about being so moved by the holy that we can do nothing else but share the good news. It is about experiencing, about knowing, about proclaiming that love and light will always have the last word, not only for ourselves for all of God’s people."Leaving Everything Behind and Following Jesus"

"Leaving Everything Behind and Following Jesus"

Luke 5: 1-11

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: Messages From the Gospel of Luke, February 2, 2025

When we sit with this passage from Luke 4 for a while, we realize the crowd’s reaction was never about Jesus. It was about them. It is about us. It is about the Beloved Community in our midst. It is about reframing the narrative. It is about inviting Jesus to be who we need him to be – someone who opens our hearts and minds, our very beings to the presence of God in our midst, someone who invites us as his followers, as his disciples to believe, to trust, to work towards the promise that this world does not have the last word."No Prophet is Welcome"

"No Prophet is Welcomed"

Luke 4: 21-30

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 1: Messages From the Gospel of Luke, January 26, 2025

In Luke, we are told that Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returns to Galilee to begin his ministry.  Unlike other Gospels where Jesus’ ministry starts with miracles like turning water into wine, Luke has Jesus officially starting his ministry by reading from the prophet Isaiah which says: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. Jesus has embraced his identity as God’s Son. He has embraced the heart of his ministry, to bring physical and spiritual transformation for all of God’s people. "Preach the Good News"

Luke : 14-21

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

“Baptism” Luke 3: 15-7, 21-22, January 12, 2025

On Baptism Sunday as we remember our own baptism, we use the opportunity for us to reclaim, to reaffirm who we are, especially when that narrative in our heads sometimes tells us that we are not enough, especially because we live in a world that tells us we need to strive for more, to be more, to be perfect, to never admit that things may be falling apart.

"Baptism"

Luke 3: 15-7, 21-22

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 4: This Little Light, December 22, 2024

As people of faith, we believe that God’s love does have the power to change the world. We are counting on it. We are depending on it. As people of faith, we know that God’s love does have the power to transform this world into God’s Beloved Community here on earth because we have experienced it in our own lives. "This Little Light Fills the World with Love"

Isaiah 60: 1-3; John 1: 1-5

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 3: This Little Light, December 15, 2024

For like all those years ago for the people of God, in the midst of all this gloom, a light continues to dawn. This light reminds us again of the promise of Advent…that this world will not have the last word, that love and light will overcome, that the Word Made Flesh came to dwell among, to become one of us so that we can become like him. "This Little Light Radiates Joy"

Isaiah 9: 1-7

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: This Little Light, December 8, 2024

Peace on Earth may be an elusive reality, yet it is our hope as people of faith. It is what we hold to – that image of God’s Peaceable Kingdom coming to fruition for all of God’s people. It is what we are called to work towards as we share our light with others. So we gather to pray, to dream, to vision. We gather, knowing that in the days to come, God’s Shalom will fill our world. "This Little Light Brings Peace"

Isaiah 2: 1-5

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 1: This Little Light, December 1, 2024

We embrace the call to let our light shine so that all will know that love will overcome by letting our light shine bright with hope. And to do that, we find courage and strength in these words from Isaiah, “I, the Lord, have called you for a good reason. I will grasp your hand and guard you, and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to lead the prisoners from prison, and those who sit in darkness from the dungeon.”

"This Little Light Shines Bright with Hope"

Isaiah 42: 1-9

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

"Bread of Life” John s: 24-35, November 24, 2024 

Like the crowd that followed Jesus across the sea and knowing our physical needs have been met, it is time to embrace the invitation to see the larger picture, to realize that there is more happening than we realized, and to embrace the invitation to say thank you to the one who supplies and meets all our needs, our God, our Creator, the one who has named and claimed us as God’s Beloved Children.

"Bread of Life"

John 6: 24-35

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 6: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, November 17, 2024

What if we as people of faith really do change this world?
This very question encapsulates our hope as people of faith. We know that the world we live in is not exactly what God intended.  There is too much hate. There is too much hurt. There is too much “othering”. There is too much separation and division. There is too much fear driving our relationships and interactions with our neighbors. There is just too much disconnection for this to ever be what God intended when God looked over what God had created and called it good.

"What if We Change the World?"

Matthew 5: 1-16

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 5: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, November 10, 2024

Imagine . . . What if we did practice what we preached? What would that look like knowing that the running thread through our sacred text is love . . . Love God with all our heart, with all our strength, with all our being and love our neighbor as ourselves.

"What if We Practiced What We Preached?"

Mark 12: 28-34

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 4: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, November 3, 2024

God created us to be in community with one another, to be in relationship with each other. Our faith story even tells us that when God was creating the world, God realized that it is not good for humans to be alone.

"What if We Support Each Other in Community?"

1 Corinthians 12: 12-26

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 3: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, October 27, 2024

What if we see everyone the same? This question needs clarification. This question does not seek uniformity. Rather it seeks unity which is why the Parable of the Good Samaritan is such a good beginning place for the answer to this question.

"What if We See Everyone the Same?"

Luke 10: 25-37

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, October 20, 2024

Jesus pushes us to once again think about why we do what we do as people of faith. If we help others out of obligation or charity, with a “this will get me into heaven” mentality, or anything else beyond relationship in recognition, in celebration of our connection to each other, then we have completely missed the Gospel message.

"What if We Reach Out to the Ones Who Need Help?"

Matthew 25: 31-46

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 1: Love... It Might Just Be Crazy Enough to Change the World, October 13, 2024

Relationships, connections, compassion, and love are what is needed to inherit eternal life, as Jesus teaches us, because eternal life is not just about getting into heaven. It’s about being a part of something bigger than us, about the Beloved Community coming to fruition here on Earth, about valuing each other for who we are, not what we can give each other, about reflecting the light of God in all things and through all things so that healing and wholeness can happen for all of God’s people.

"What if We Learn to Love Each Other for Nothing in Return?"

Mark 10: 17-31

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

"Welcome” Mark 9: 30-37, September 29, 2024

"Welcome"

Mark 9: 30-37

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 12: Anything but Ordinary, September 15, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 11: Anything but Ordinary, September 8, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 10: Anything but Ordinary, September 1, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 9: Anything but Ordinary, August 25, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 8: Anything but Ordinary, August 18, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 7: Anything but Ordinary, August 11, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

"All for One and One for All” Ephesians 4: 1-16, August 4, 2024

"All for One and One for All"

Ephesians 4: 1-16

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Katherine Alexander, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 6: Anything but Ordinary, July 21, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 5: Anything but Ordinary, July 14, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 4: Anything but Ordinary, July 7, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 3: Anything but Ordinary, June 26, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

“Godzilla vs Kong, Euodia vs Syntyche” Philippians 4: 1-7, June 16, 2024

Rev. Bill McDonald, guest preacher

Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 2: Anything but Ordinary, June 9, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

Part 1: Anything but Ordinary, June 2, 2024

The summer is considered a season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church—a season in between the mystifying resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and Jesus’ birth, visited anew, at Advent. The lectionary texts for these weeks follow the family narratives of Abraham, which are stories that make the title “ordinary” seem laughable.

"Send Me" Isaiah 6: 1-8, May 26, 2024

"Send Me"

Isaih 6: 1-8

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

May 19, 2024 - Pentecost Sunday

Today, we gather with our brothers and sisters of Historic Second Christian Church and welcome Pastor Rick Smith as preacher.

"TBD: To Be Determined"

Acts 2: 37-47

Pastor Rick Smith of Historic Second Christian Church, Midway KY

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY

Part 6: The 50 Great Days of Easter, May 12, 2024

"Joy Made Complete"

John 17: 6-19

Part 5: The 50 Great Days of Easter, May 5, 2024 

"Love One Another"

Joh 15: 9-17

Rev. Dr. Heather W. McColl, Midway Christian Church, Midway KY