Sermons 2023

Sermons are collected in chronological order with the most-recent at the top. Long-press or right-click the bulletin cover to view it full size. You are welcome to download/share any bulletin cover, just please don’t alter them or remove the richfieldumc.org branding, thank you. To look up a sermon by title, preacher, scripture, or date, search with “Find in Page” in your mobile browser or use the browser search function from your PC or Mac.
Sermon Archives by Year: 20232022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

Sermons are listed as follows:
Sermon Title
Worship Series
Preacher
Scripture Text
Date (MM.DD.YEAR)

FAITHFUL WORSHIP SERIES 2022-2023

Full-Time Faith | 09.11.2022-10.09.2022
All Together Now | 10.16.2022-11.06.2022
I Serve God | 11.13.2022-11.20.2022
Tidings of Comfort and Joy | 11.27.2022-12.25.2022
Half Truths | 01.01.2023-01.29.2023
For God So Loved the World | 02.05.2023-02.19.2023
Unwavering Love | 02.26.2023-04.09.2023
Less Mess | 04.16.2023-0.07.2023
Music Splash / Pentecost | 05.14.2023-05.28.2023
So Many Questions | Summer 2023
Summer at the Movies | Summer 2023
Sermons are available as YouTube videos.

HALF TRUTHS | January/February 2023

There are simple phrases that sound like they’re in the Bible and capture an element of truth, yet they miss the point. Cliché phrases like “God won’t give you more than you can handle” can end up hurting instead of helping. This series compares common Christian clichés with scriptural wisdom to find God’s truth. Based on the book Half Truths by Rev. Adam Hamilton.

Half Truth #1: “Everything happens for a reason.”
Half Truths 1/5
01.08.2023
Genesis 45:1-11,
Genesis 50:20-21
Rev. Nate Melcher

Half Truth #2: 
“God helps those who help themselves.”

Half Truths 2/5
01.15.2023
Psalm 13,
Psalm 121
Rev. Nate Melcher

Half Truth #3:  “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Half Truths 3/5
01.22.2023
1 Corinthians 10:13
Psalm 46:1-2
Rev. Nate Melcher

Half Truth #4:  “God said it,  I believe it,  that settles it.”
Half Truths 4/5
01.29.2023
Deuteronomy 23:12-14
Rev. Nate Melcher

Half Truth #5:  “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
Half Truths 5/5
02.05.2023
Matthew 7:1-5
Rev. Nate Melcher

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD | February 2023

We thank God for eternal love for the world in these few weeks between the seasons of Epiphany and Lent. The truth of John 3:16 isn’t just a cliché catchphrase, it’s a reminder that God is for all people. Guest preachers and musicians help us expand our narrow scope of the world to see new experiences for how others experience the holy.

The Gift
For God So Loved the World 1/2
02.12.2023
Romans 8:1-11
John 3:16-17
Rev. Cynthia Williams
District Superintendent

Hearing and Doing
For God So Loved the World 2/2
01.08.2023
James 1:19-27
Rev. Jerad Morey

UNWAVERING LOVE | March/April 2023 (Lent)

We are blessed to be the children of a God of unwavering love. When we love others, God is there. When we mess up, God is there. When we face the odds, God is there. This is a Lenten season deep dive on the passion story of Jesus leading to Easter in a series inspired by Prof. Amy-Jill Levine’s book and video series, Entering the Passion. Go deeper and watch the supplemental video series on Amplify.

Jerusalem: Risking Reputation
Unwavering Love 1/6
02.26.2023
Matthew 21:1-11
Rev. Nate Melcher

The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
Unwavering Love 2/6
03.05.2023
Mark 11:16-19
Rev. Nate Melcher

Teachings: Risking Challenge
Unwavering Love 3/6
03.12.2023

Matthew 21:23-27,
Matthew 22:15-22,
Matthew 22:34-40
Rev. Nate Melcher

The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
Unwavering Love 4/6
03.19.2023
John 12:1-8
Rev. Hope Hutchison

The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friendship
Unwavering Love 5/6
03.26.2023
Luke 22:14-27
Rev. Nate Melcher

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER | April 2023

Gethsemane: Risking Temptation
Unwavering Love 6/6
Palm Sunday

04.02.2023
Mark 14:32-50
Rev. Nate Melcher

So Many Questions!
Easter Sunday
04.09.2023
John 20:1-18
Rev. Nate Melcher

LESS MESS | April/May 2023

Life can get messy. There’s no promise that life won’t have tough times, but God does promise to be with us no matter what. Each one of our experiences, both mistakes and achievements, teach us. God wants us to learn and grow. This series is inspired by the book Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess by Bishop Tom Berlin. Go deeper and watch the supplemental video series on Amplify.

This Is a Real Mess
Less Mess 1/6
04.16.2023
Luke 18:9-17
Rev. Lauren Rheingans

 

 

Who Left This Mess?
Less Mess 2/6
04.23.2023
Luke 7:1-10
Rev. Nate Melcher

Bless This Mess
Less Mess 3/6
04.30.2023
Acts 9:1-20
Rev. Nate Melcher

No Messing Around
Less Mess 4/6
05.07.2023
Colossians 3:1-17
Rev. Nate Melcher

Address This Mess
Less Mess 5/6
05.14.2023
Galatians 5:22b-26
Rev. Nate Melcher

 

The Message Is a Mess
Less Mess 6/6
05.21.2023
Matthew 22:34-40
Rev. Nate Melcher

HEARTS ON FIRE | Summer Holiday Sundays 2023

How Is It That We Hear?
Pentecost 1/3
05.28.2023
Acts 2:1-12
Rev. Nate Melcher

What Does This Mean?
Pentecost 2/3
07.02.2023
Acts 2:12-21
Rev. Nate Melcher

What Should We Do?
Pentecost 3/3
09.03.2023
Acts 2:37-47
Rev. Nate Melcher

SO MANY QUESTIONS | Summer 2023

Is religion ending?
So Many Questions 1/9
06.04.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

Will the Bible Ever Change?
So Many Questions 2/9
06.18.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

What makes a Methodist?
So Many Questions 3/9
06.25.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Hope Hutchison

What is prayer for?
So Many Questions 4/9
07.16.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

How do I put faith into action?
So Many Questions 5/9
07.23.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Hope Hutchison

What does the Bible say about heaven?
So Many Questions 6/9
07.30.2023
Matthew 13:24-33, 44-53
Rev. Nate Melcher

What does the Bible say about hell?
So Many Questions 7/9
08.06.2023
Matthew 25:31-46
Rev. Nate Melcher

Why is forgiveness hard?
So Many Questions 8/9
08.20.2023
Matthew 18:15-22
Rev. Nate Melcher

Why are Christians hypocrites?
So Many Questions 9/9
08.27.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

I AM A ROCK: GOD, SIMON, AND GARFUNKEL | Summer Outdoor Bandshell Worship 2023

Title TBA
I AM a Rock: God, Simon, and Garfunkel 1/3
06.11.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

Title TBA
I AM a Rock: God, Simon, and Garfunkel 2/3
07.09.2023
Luke 15:11-32
Rev. Nate Melcher

Title TBA
I AM a Rock: God, Simon, and Garfunkel 3/3
08.13.2023
Scripture TBA
Rev. Nate Melcher

Experience sermons live on Sundays and by podcast.

Senior Pastor Nate Melcher is known for crafting sermons with humor and depth. His preaching weaves closely to a scripture text and features illustrations that appeal across generations. He combines his M.Div theology degree with his MFA in Creative Writing and BA in Film Studies, as well as his training in improv comedy, to deliver sermons intended to be relatable, meaningful, and actionable. 

Pastor Nate preaches thematically-linked worship series at typically 4-7 weeks each (catch up on the latest series with sermon podcasts). In every worship service, the sermon offers a mix of pastoral care in the midst of challenge, prophetic vision for a justice-filled world, and a call to action.