Central United Methodist Church (Arlington, Virginia) Sermon Podcast
An audio podcast of the weekly message preached at Central United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia. You're invited to join us online for worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Visit us on the web at cumcballston.org to learn how to join us for worship via zoom or facebook live. You're invited to join our congregation where we worship God, serve others, and embrace all.
Central United Methodist Church (Arlington, Virginia) Sermon Podcast
Holy Rocks
A Story Worth Sharing: Holy Rocks
Scripture: Genesis 28:10–19
This week at Central, we continued our series A Story Worth Sharing with Jacob’s story in the wilderness. Fleeing from the consequences of his deceit, Jacob finds himself alone, exhausted, and afraid, with nothing but a rock for a pillow. Yet it is in this place — the middle of nowhere, in the middle of his mess — that Jacob dreams of heaven touching earth. God meets him not with condemnation, but with a promise: “I am with you now… I will not leave you.”
Pastor Sarah reflected on how Jacob’s “holy rock” became a marker of God’s presence — a tangible reminder that even in liminal spaces, God shows up. Just as Jacob turned his stone pillow into a sacred pillar, we too are invited to name and mark the moments where heaven has touched earth in our lives. These “holy rocks” become stories worth sharing, reminders of God’s faithfulness not only for ourselves, but for the generations to come.
🌀 Reflection Questions:
- When have you felt like God was silent or distant in your life? Looking back, can you see signs that God was still present and at work?
- Jacob marked his encounter with God by setting up a stone. What might it look like for you to create a reminder of where you’ve seen God in your story?
- Where in your daily routine do you need to pause, “look up,” and notice God’s presence? How might doing that change the way you see your relationships, struggles, or surroundings?