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A bible Study style podcast to talk about the word and to spread gods word.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Episode 72 – Transitions— For Better or Worse: When the Water Is Healed
Text: II Kings 2:15–22
Lens: Community resistance to new leadership; unhealthy nostalgia vs. healthy acceptance; what it takes to validate leadership.
- Scripture Foundation
- Text (ESV):
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him… they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”… They urged him to send men to look for Elijah… but they did not find him… Then Elisha healed the water… and the water has been healed to this day.
- Cross-References:
- Joshua 1:1–9 – God affirms Joshua after Moses.
- Acts 1:23–26 – Community confirms Matthias as apostle.
- 1 Timothy 4:12–16 – Paul urges Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth.
- Word Study:
- “Rest” (nuach, Hebrew): to settle, dwell, remain. The Spirit’s resting validates Elisha.
- “Heal” (rapha, Hebrew): to make whole, restore, repair.
- Context:
- Prophets recognize Elisha yet resist closure (searching for Elijah).
- Elisha shows leadership patience, then demonstrates authority through miracle.
- Healthy transition requires both recognition and fruitfulness.
- The Big Questions
- Why do people resist new leadership—even when God confirms it?
- What does it take for a leader to be validated in the eyes of the people?
- How do nostalgia and denial keep churches from moving forward?
- Why must new leadership be both patient with resistance and bold in action?
- What does healing the water teach us about the role of leaders in times of transition?
- Insights & Commentary
- Biblical Insight: The prophets bowed (respect) but also begged (resistance)—mirroring how communities honor leaders while clinging to the past.
- Community Leadership Insight: Elisha’s patience (“Send them…”) shows pastoral wisdom; he doesn’t shame them, but lets reality confirm the truth.
- Practical Leadership Insight: Elisha’s first act was not self-promotion, but service (healing the city’s water). True leaders bless the people.
- Modern Parallel: When pastors or leaders are transitioned (via itinerancy, firing, or retirement), congregations often struggle—“searching” for the old leader even when God has moved on.
- Community Connection
- Church Parallel: Like the prophets, congregations may resist a new pastor, waiting for the old one to “come back.” This creates tension and delay.
- Contemporary Example: In situations like Pastor Joel Tudman’s departure, or Methodist itinerancy, the congregation’s denial can be as disruptive as leadership’s decisions.
- Local Angle: How can Clair or similar churches move past grief to embrace new beginnings?
- Takeaways & Application
- Individual: Don’t waste energy searching for what God has already moved. Embrace what is before you.
- Corporate (Church/Community): Validate new leadership through fruitfulness, not favoritism. Judge leadership by life-giving acts.
- Action Challenge: Ask: What “water” in your life/community needs healing—and how can you step into that role instead of longing for the past?
- Engagement Elements
- Audience Questions:
- Have you ever resisted a new leader or season because you were still searching for the old one?
- What “water” in your life needs healing right now?
- Shareable Quote: “True leadership in transition is proven when the water is healed, not when egos are preserved.”
- Possible Song/Clip: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” — a hymn of God’s leading through transitions.
- Prayer & Reflection
Prayer:
“God of continuity and change, forgive us when we cling to the past instead of embracing your present work. Help us honor those who came before us without resisting those you’ve called now. Make us life-givers, healers of the water, in every place you’ve planted us. Amen.”
Devotional Thought:
The surest sign of God’s Spirit in new leadership is not control, but healing.
Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/
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Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Live Service for June 11th, 2025
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Reflection Time
Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Conversation
1. Have we become the Safe House?
2. What have been the conversations that have stood out the most?
3. How do we continue to make this space safe?
4. Are you safe here?
Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Episode 69
Rise Up: The Resurrection Moment
Mark 5:35-43
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Conversation
- Recap of Annual Conference
- What are we resurrecting?
- When lament turns to laughter
- The Atmosphere to foster a Resurrection moment
- Will we rise truly?
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Live Service for May 21st, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
The Conclusion or The Beginning
Philippians 3:13-16
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Conversation
1. How are you feeling?
2. What does the cross mean to you now?
3. The Gospel is not for the privileged…
4. Reclaim the Sword…
5. Begin Again…
Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Live Service for May 14th, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Chapter 5
Judges 4:4-9
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army,
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Episode 66
Chapter 4 (Part II)
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
Discussion
- Revisit Last Week
- Open for Questions/Reflections
- Can We Unite With Different Gifts?
- What Is the Message Now?
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Live Service for April 30th, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Episode 65
Chapter 4
Ezekiel 37:8-10
And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
Discussion
1. The Winds of Prophecy
2. An Interesting Intersection
3. Putting the Message Where You Can Get
4. Uniting as One (Truly!)
Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Live Service for April 23th, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Episode 64
Chapter 3
Galatians 2:15-21
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Discussion
1. Crucifixion (Lynching) as a catalyst for movement
2. Identifying with Christ through crucifixion
3. Discipleship & Suffering
4. All the Way to Calvary
Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above